Funded through donations from Freemasons and their families, the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country.
Freemasonry is one of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world, with its roots dating back to medieval times.
The MCF provides support, care and services to freemasons and their families and supports other charities helping the most disadvantaged in society. It funds projects that enhance opportunity, advance healthcare and education, and promote independence.
About the grant
The MCF’s Children and Young People grant programme is open to national and local charities helping disadvantaged children and young people to overcome challenges.
Charities can apply for small or large grants depending on their income at any time of the year. All applicants submit an initial enquiry with a decision given within two to four weeks on whether they can make a full application.
The MCF aims to give applicants a final decision within two to four months of submitting a full application.
How much is available?
Small grants range from £1,000 to £5,000 per year for up to three years. They are unrestricted so can be used for general running costs.
They are available to charities whose annual income is between £25,000 and £500,000 but must not exceed 20 per cent of the total income of the charity.
Large grants usually range from £10,000 to £60,000 and are available to charities whose annual income is between £500,000 and £5m. These grants are restricted to funding costs associated with a specific project, such as salaries, activities and materials, and are awarded for up to three years.
Are there restrictions?
The grants support disadvantaged and vulnerable children aged up to 18 and up to 25 for disabled young people. They also include projects or charities providing family support that will benefit the child or young person such as:
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Mental and physical health support
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Learning and development, including language and communication skills or social and emotional needs
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Support for the whole family
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Pastoral and advocacy support.
Examples of projects
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Educational opportunities such as improving literacy and numeracy
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Training and employment opportunities such as mentoring and skills development
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Encouraging healthy behaviours with regards to diet, activity and wellbeing
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Provision of adaptive technologies and equipment removing barriers
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Psychological interventions such as access to counselling and peer support groups.
Measuring impact
Outcomes the MCF wants charities that it funds to achieve include:
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Age-appropriate skills developed by the time children get to school or young people enter their first jobs
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Children and young people receive more opportunities to access education and training
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Existing services better supporting children and young people’s physical, psychological and emotional needs
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Children and young people living in a healthy and stable environment
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Are more engaged in physical and social activities through sports and social clubs
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Have greater access to physical, psychological and emotional support
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Greater knowledge about rights, options and opportunities.
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Improved health and wellbeing for children and young people
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Equal opportunities for all children and young people regardless of ability or background
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Children and young people having the best start in life no matter what their circumstances
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Stable, healthy and supported family networks.
Who isn’t eligible?
The MCF does not consider grants for animal welfare, environmental, arts and heritage projects nor those that promote religious doctrine or political activities. Applications are not considered for projects delivering statutory duties, the national curriculum in schools, academic research or hospital equipment.
The fund will not accept applications from umbrella organisations, social enterprises, community interest companies, schools, hospitals and nurseries.
- More from: https://mcf.org.uk/
Funding roundup
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Co-op Foundation, Co-op, and #iwillFund have launched a £4.5m fund to put young people at the heart of change. The Young Gamechangers Fund will offer grants of up to £20,000 directly to young people aged 10-25 to help turn into reality their ideas for making their communities safer, more sustainable and more inclusive places.
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Applications for the Weston Charity Awards are now open. The awards support ambitious frontline charities working in community, welfare, youth, and environment sectors. Unrestricted grants of £6,500 are available for up to 22 charities to develop a strategic sustainability plan and accelerate innovative growth. Successful charities also gain free access to a package of leadership coaching. Charities over two years old and with an income of less than £5m a year can apply by 10 January.
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Community foundations are invited to apply for up to £50,000 in funding as part of a scheme to empower 18– to 25-year-old care leavers to enter adulthood independently. The programme, led and managed by UK Community Foundations, aims to give more and better life chances to a broad pool of young care leavers who need extra support. A total of £3m is available nationwide.
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Family Action and Barclays have announced a three-year partnership to support families and individuals across the country. Through the delivery of Barclays LifeSkills workshops and the provision of learning support grants worth up to £1,000 for each recipient, the partnership is helping people to meet basic household needs and build their confidence, while developing skills.
