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MASONIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (MCF)

Freemasons in Leicestershire and Rutland support the central charity the Masonic Charitable Foundation. For Freemasons, for families, for everyone. The Masonic Charitable Foundation builds better lives by enabling opportunity, advancing healthcare and education and promoting independence for Freemasons, their families and the wider community. Funded entirely through the generosity of Freemasons and their families, the Masonic Charitable Foundation is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country. How the Foundation helps Masonic families A wide range of help and support is available for Freemasons, their wives, partners, widows, children and grandchildren. Most of the support provided takes the form of financial grants to assist with financial, health or family related needs. Financial

  • Daily living costs Grants following an accident, redundancy or personal crisis
  • Funeral bills
  • Minor home repairs​
Family (Children in full-time education)
  • Costs for education or training
  • Scholarships, travel grants and student accommodation
  • Supporting exceptional talent in sport, music or the performing arts​
Health
  • Medical treatment
  • Dental treatment
  • Mobility aids and home adaptations
  • Counselling
Family (Care)
  • Masonic care homes – including nursing, residential and dementia care
  • Respite care
  • UK holidays
Practical assistance The Foundation’s Advice & Support Team offer confidential, impartial and practical guidance about the help we can provide. The Team can also help with applications for state and local authority benefits and can put you in touch with other organisations who can give advice on care, employment and education. How to apply For further information about the help and support available from the Foundation please call their dedicated freephone enquiry line: 0800 035 60 90 or email help@mcf.org.uk. You can also write to: Masonic Charitable Foundation, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ. For more information about the Foundation’s grants and the application process, please visit: www.mcf.org.uk/community How the Foundation helps communities In addition to the support provided to Freemasons and their families, the Masonic Charitable Foundation looks beyond Freemasonry, making significant financial grants to charities that help people to live happy, fulfilled lives and to participate actively in society. The charities supported make a significant and lasting difference to people in need. We aim to benefit as many people as possible and further those causes about which Freemasons and their families have told us they are most passionate. To find out more about the Foundation’s Community Support and Research grants, please visit: mcf.org.uk/community Keep up to date with the Foundation’s work​​. Website: www.mcf.org.uk Twitter: @Masonic_Charity Facebook: @themcf YouTube: Masonic Charitable Foundation



TEDDIES FOR LOVING CARE (TLC)

Over 16,000 Teddies have been given to children who have attended the Accident and Emergency Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary. These Teddies have been provided by the Masons of the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland who over the last 9 years have donated funds for their purchase. The Medical Staff at the hospital are most grateful for the Teddies which help to calm the children down after traumatic accidents. They are also used to describe to the children the treatments which they are about to receive. ​ In addition teddy drawing and colouring material is also provided to occupy children in the Accident and Emergency unit while the children await their treatment. The Doctors, Nurses and Play leaders are most appreciative of these initiatives and their regular supply and recipients are invited to send us a 'Thank You' postcard. ​ THE ORIGINS OF TLC The Appeal was launched in Essex in 2001 The TLC Appeal originated after an allergic reaction suddenly caused the swelling and blocking of the windpipe of the wife of a Freemason. Her life was saved by the rapid action of the medical staff at an A&E unit, who were able to resuscitate and stabilise her. They are both eternally grateful for the swift and caring attention that she received, but found the experience the most frightening of their lives and speculated on the distress that children must face when visiting A&E units. ​ The idea of doing something useful for medical staff at A&E units was discussed with other local Freemasons, and from that point the compulsive idea of “Teddies for Loving Care” was born. The Appeal was launched in Essex in 2001 and has since been adopted by most of the Masonic provinces across the country. Prior to the launch, a great deal of research was carried out. Hospitals were asked how many teddies would be needed. We had to establish what style and size of teddy would be suitable in order to meet stringent toy safety regulations and be ‘cuddly’ enough to appeal to small children. We needed to find a distributor that could source and deliver the teddies for us at reasonable cost. By canvassing local Masonic lodges and explaining the concept, we gained confidence that support for the Appeal would be there. Thankfully, after 12 years, that support and enthusiasm for the Appeal still exists and well over 1,000,000 teddies have now been distributed nationwide. Most of the money raised to fund the Appeal comes from Freemasons themselves through lodge donations, but we also receive some donations from grateful individuals and the sale of TLC merchandise e.g. other teddies (not the ones supplied to hospitals) and lapel pins. More information can be found by visiting their website: http://www.tlcappeal.org/



THE LEICESTERSHIRE & RUTLAND MASONIC CHARITY ASSOCIATION (LRMCA)

Benevolence and Charity are the fundamental principles of Freemasonry. Freemasons are one of the largest charitable givers, donating around £7 Million per annum including making major contributions to international disaster relief funds. All donations are funded exclusively by Freemasons of the Province who as members of the LRMCA donate a minimum of £20. Read more about our Charitable work below. ​ The Province through the Leicestershire and Rutland Charity Association (LRMCA) undertakes the following Charitable work with the Trustees meeting at regular intervals to: ​

  • Make grants and donations to Local Non Masonic Organisations, Institutions and registered Charities.
  • Provide relief and assistance to the aged, sick, distressed and infirm Freemasons and their families in Leicestershire and Rutland.
  • Donate to the Masonic Charitable Foundation based in London.
​ The LRMCA encourages applications for grants from Local Charities, and also seeks nominations from the Lodges and the Brethren throughout Leicestershire and Rutland. Sympathetic consideration is given by the Trustees to requests from small Local Charities. The Lodges are actively involved in Charity, raising their own funds for chosen Charities, for the LRMCA, and the Masonic Charitable Foundation. To this end each Lodge has a Charity Steward to raise the funds and an Almoner who looks after the welfare of Lodge Brethren, their widows and their families. Via the Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) Appeal and the Province of Leicestershire & Rutland, over 16,000 Teddies have been given to children who have attended the Accident and Emergency Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary. These Teddies have been provided by the Freemasons' of Leicestershire and Rutland, who over the last 9 years have donated funds for their purchase. ​ If your Charity would like to be considered for a grant, please use the contact form below to contact our Charity office.



DEVONSHIRE COURT

Surrounded by four and a half acres of landscaped gardens, Devonshire Court is located in a peaceful residential area in Oadby, Leicester. We provide residential care and dementia support for up to 69 residents. We want you to feel right at home with us. Here at Devonshire Court, you will have a spacious, fully furnished bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, and a specialist team to support your care needs. Your bedroom will be complete with fitted furniture and many rooms have views of the surrounding area. You can furnish your room with personal items such as pictures, books and ornaments to make it your own. The Home has extensive grounds including a putting green and a sheltered terrace. Our inner courtyards provide a quiet area to sit and enjoy the smell of the flowers. Residents love our sensory garden, which is designed to stimulate all five senses. Our on-site beauty salon means that you can visit the hairdressers or enjoy a beauty treatment whenever you like. Mrs Juliet O'Connor Home Manager FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK HERE