Charitable Support
In the UK ​Freemasons' Lodges together comprise one of the largest charitable givers in the country. Freemasons primarily raise charitable funds from their own members.
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Lodge members contribute to the national Freemasons' Charity while the Lodge also contributes to many local charities.
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The national charity donates very significant sums to a variety of causes such as to air ambulances, blood bikes and to purchase specialist fire fighting equipment. Freemasonry does a huge amount for medical research into treatments for cancer, diabetes, heart disease and a whole range of other conditions, including Alzheimer's, by funding UK medical scientists to make ground breaking discoveries.
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Dorset Freemasons together with other Freemasons under the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) have awarded more than £4.7m through four Covid-19 relief programmes, focusing on community support, food support, domestic abuse, homelessness and mental health.
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To support the community, Freemasons also worked 18 million hours as volunteers in a range of different areas where there was a need, including driving vulnerable people to hospital, preparing meals, taking care of people at risk and organising care packages, as well as producing scrubs, PPE and hand sanitiser.
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More recently, money raised has helped to support those affected by overseas disasters such as the invasion of Ukraine. The national Freemason's charity has donated £50,000 to the British Red Cross to support its work with Ukrainian refugees. In addition, many Freemasons are offering further support, both financially and through donating much needed supplies.
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Each Freemason's Lodge also selects local charities to support. In recent years local charities supported by Blandford Freemasons have included:
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Age Concern Blandford
Amy Adams Trust
Blandford Civic Society
Blandford Corn Exchange Restoration Project
Blandford Costume Museum
Blandford Museum
Blandford Opportunities Group
Blandford Read Easy
Blandford Youth Club
Blandford Youth & Community Centre
Charlton Marshall Village Hall
Disability Action Group N. Dorset
Diverse Ability
Dorset Doc Bike
Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance
Friends of Blandford Community Hospital
Julia's House
Margaret Green Riding for the Disabled
Mosaic
Treads
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