For Freemasons, for families, for everyonewww.mcf.org.uk

BERKSHIRE 2023 FESTIVAL APPEAL

In April 2016, the MCF took over the work of the four central Masonic charities and now provides a wide range of support to Freemasons, their families and the wider community to encourage opportunity, promote independence and improve wellbeing.

The Province of Berkshire has pledged to raise a total of £1.9 million during the five-year Festival Appeal, which ends in June 2023. I hope that every Freemason will contribute as generously towards the Festival as their circumstances may allow. Regular giving of £10 per month will qualify members for the Festival jewel and I hope that they will wear it with pride. Wherever possible, I would ask that we all Gift Aid our donations so that our contributions attract the maximum amount of tax relief.

Our record of charitable giving within the Province defines the sort of people that we are and supporting this Festival should be the main aim of Lodge fundraising and giving during this five-year period. Every Lodge has a Charity Steward through whom the Festival can be supported and I

hope that all Lodges will work towards achieving the Platinum award; the highest level of recognition.

During the Festival, there will be a myriad of events and opportunities to support your Lodge, your Province and to enjoy yourselves, and I urge you all to get involved in any way that you can.

I am proud to be the Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire and I know that I can rely on your backing without reservation. Therefore, I ask you to help me and the Festival Committee to uphold the honour and reputation of our Province through your unqualified support for the 2023 Festival. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to demonstrate our fraternal relations, how much we care and how much we are committed to the Masonic and wider communities.

We are going to have great fun over the next five years and I look forward to sharing with you the unique experiences this Festival will bring both to the Province and to the MCF.

It is with great pride and pleasure that I announce the launch of the Berkshire 2023 Festival in support of the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF).

FOREWORDAnthony C Howlett-Bolton OBE Provincial Grand Master

2 Masonic Charitable Foundation

3

for

The last Berkshire Festival Appeal

RAISED

THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION

£2,225,806

support amounted to

Over the last

YEARS5£1,246,515

The MCF is currently supporting

FREEMASONS & THEIR FAMILIES

42at an annual cost of £137,202

Support in Berkshire

RECENT GRANTS

£310,000

awarded to local charities in Berkshire totalled almost

Berkshire 2023 Festival 3

What we do for Freemasons and their families

The MCF builds better lives by encouraging opportunity, promoting independence and improving wellbeing for Freemasons and their families. Our grants and services are funded entirely from the donations of Freemasons and their families. A wide range of help and support is available for financial, health, family and care related needs, including:

* For children under the age of 25 and in full-time education

Health• Medical treatment• Mobility aids • Home adaptations• Counselling

Care• Masonic care homes• Respite care• Guidance and

support

Financial• Essential daily

living costs• Help through a

personal crisis• Funeral bills• Emergency home

repairs

Family*• Educational expenses

for children • University scholarships • Support for exceptional

talent

Alongside the MCF’s financial help, the Advice & Support Team offers confidential, impartial and practical guidance about the grants available, state and local authority benefits and other useful organisations.

4 Masonic Charitable Foundation

Real Lives The Higgins Family

“Immediately after I was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer, I was admitted to hospital for treatment. We’ve always been a month-to-month family and, being self-employed, I was worried how we would pay that month’s bills. My brother and Lodge Almoner got in touch with the MCF on my behalf and just a few days later the charity paid a grant to cover two month’s mortgage payments into my bank account. This instantly lifted a huge weight from my shoulders.”

It was only after Robert returned home that a representative of the MCF visited him and he realised additional support was available for his children.

“The MCF provides termly grants to support my two step-children who are studying for their GCSEs, and my daughter who is studying sociology at university. All three are doing well and it’s reassuring to know that whatever happens to me, support for the children will continue for as long as they are in education.”

Robert

Can the MCF help you?

For advice about the support available, eligibility or how to apply, speak to your Lodge Almoner or contact the MCF directly:

Freephone 0800 035 60 90 Email help@mcf.org.uk Visit www.mcf.org.uk

Sadly, Robert has now died but his family were happy for us to share his story. We will continue to support Robert's family for as long as they need us.

Berkshire 2023 Festival 5

Masonic Charitable Foundation

The MCF’s Charity Grants programme looks beyond Freemasonry, making significant grants which help people to live happy, fulfilling lives and to participate actively in society.

To achieve this aim, grants are awarded to local and national registered charities that provide support for society’s most vulnerable people, in particular older people facing social isolation and ‘at risk’ young people.

In the last 40 years, the MCF has provided support amounting to around £130 million to charities across England, Wales and overseas.

Supporting the wider community

Masonic Charitable Foundation66

The MCF has given a £66,512 grant to Prior’s Court Foundation, a Berkshire-based charity dedicated to providing life-chances and support for young people aged 5 – 25 who are severely affected by autism.

For more information about the MCF’s Charity Grants and to find out how to apply, please visit:

www.mcf.org.uk/community

Real Lives Prior’s Court Foundation

“Thanks to the generous support of the Freemasons, we can now fund a Master Baker to lead our bakery learning programme. For parents of young people with severe autism, work is often not something they imagined possible for their child. Our vocational training and employment opportunities make work a real possibility for people with autism, and because of the Masonic Charitable Foundation, we’ll be enabling more young people with autism to

undertake valuable training within our on-site bakery.”

Mike Robinson, Chief Executive Officer at

Prior’s Court Foundation

In 2017, the MCF gave an additional

to celebrate the Tercentenary year.

300CHARITIES

M TO£3

In Berkshire

share of this fund6CHARITIES BENEFITTED

FROM A£58K

Berkshire 2023 Festival 7

A Province united in support

Holy Royal ArchE Comp Ian Hopgood, ME Grand Superintendent, Province of Berkshire

“Berkshire is a unique Province and as ME Grand Superintendent, I cherish the amazing bond we share with the Craft.

The Royal Arch Companions of Berkshire welcome this 2023 Festival and pledge our wholehearted support to fundraising activities. Together we are strong!”

Rose CroixV Ill Bro Roy Stone 33, Inspector General, Ancient and Accepted Rite, Province of Berkshire

“This wonderful Order, which has been in existence for over 300 years, is delighted to offer

wholehearted commitment to the Province of Berkshire 2023 Festival, in support of the Masonic Charitable Foundation. We greatly appreciate the excellent work undertaken by the charity and wish the Festival every success.”

Mark MasonsR W Bro Richard J Olliver, GMRAC, Provincial Grand Master, Province of Berkshire

“All the Mark members in Berkshire are fully aware of the excellent work of the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Following a

very successful Festival of our own in July 2017, the Mark Province of Berkshire will be pleased to support the Berkshire 2023 Festival and trust that the close link between the Craft and Mark Masonry in Berkshire continues to grow.”

Provincial PrioryR E Kt Raymond E Cochrane, KCT, Provincial Prior of The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta

“The Knights of the Knight Templar Province of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire appreciate all the excellent work carried out by the Masonic Charitable Foundation. On behalf of all our Knights, we wish the new PGM and the Brethren of Berkshire every success with their 2023 Festival in support of the MCF.”

8 Masonic Charitable Foundation

A Province united in support

How to support the 2023 Festival

Become a 2023 Festival StewardFreemasons can become a Steward of the 2023 Festival by donating a minimum of £600 towards the Festival Appeal. This total can also be paid by direct debit or other methods, in monthly instalments of £10 over the five years. This equates to just 35p per day or £2.50 per week.

Complete the form included in this brochure to become a Festival Steward now!

You can also set up a direct debit or make a single donation online by visiting:

www.berkshire2023festival.org.uk

www.mcf.org.uk/festival/berkshire-2023-festival

9Berkshire 2023 Festival

Use Gift Aid envelopesThe MCF has supplied dedicated Gift Aid envelopes for our Festival. These can be obtained from the Provincial Office and are also located at each Masonic Hall. Use these envelopes wherever possible and, assuming they are completed properly, eligible donations will increase by 25% for those paying income tax. Using these envelopes will allow your donations to go directly to the Festival and be credited to both individuals and Lodges.

Donate £5 by texting BERKS2023 to 70500Texting BERKS2023 to 70500 will donate £5 to the Berkshire 2023 Appeal and will allocate the donation to you personally and your Lodge.

Organise Lodge fundraising eventsFundraising and sponsored events will raise vital funds for the Festival and it is tremendously important that each Lodge gives careful consideration to planning and holding one or more each year. Consider quiz nights, musical events, sponsored entertainments and other events which might involve friends and family and put the 'fun' back into 'fundraising'.

Fundraise onlineOnce you have organised a fundraising event or challenge, create a personalised

sponsorship web page to receive donations. For more information, visit: www.mcf.org.uk/berkshire-2023-festival

Leave a legacyRemembering the MCF in your will can make a lasting difference to the lives of Freemasons, their families and the wider community. To find out more or request a will-making guide, visit: www.mcf.org.uk/legacy

Stay up-to-datewww.mcf.org.uk www.berkshire2023festival.org.uk www.mcf.org.uk/berkshire-2023-festival

@BerksPGL www.facebook.com/Berkshire2023Festival

Promote the FestivalThe MCF can supply promotional materials, posters and banner stands for use at Masonic centres and fundraising or social events. They can also arrange for a speaker to attend Lodge meetings or other appropriate events to speak about the work of the charity. It is also a good idea to share the MCF’s Tweets and Facebook posts regularly to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the work they do and the Berkshire 2023 Festival.

10 Masonic Charitable Foundation

Lodge Honorifics

A series of honorifics have been set to acknowledge and celebrate Lodge financial achievements. Medals will be awarded to Lodges that donate or promise to donate:

On completion of this form

...your donations will go directly into the Provincial Festival Relief

Chest no. E2023. Both you and your Lodge will be attributed

the donation towards your individual and Lodge Honorifics.

Individual Honorifics The Province wishes to acknowledge the generosity of its Brethren by issuing Festival jewels to all qualifying Brethren. The Province fully understands that it may not be within every Brother’s means to qualify for the various honorifics and greatly appreciates all donations made.

Qualifying Levels: Steward equates to £2.50 per week * Excluding Gift Aid tax reclaimed by the MCF where applicable.

Honorifics

HO

NO

RIF

ICS

➤

£600

£350Bronze

£750Gold

£500Silver

£1,000Platinum

* Including Gift Aid tax reclaimed by the MCF where applicable.

per member

per member

per member

per member

For Freemasons, for families, for everyone 60 Great Queen Street | London | WC2B 5AZ Tel: 020 3146 3333 | info@mcf.org.uk www.mcf.org.uk

Charity number 1164703. Company number 09751836.

For updates about the Berkshire 2023 Festival Appeal visit our website: berkshire2023festival.org.uk @BerksPGL facebook.com/Berkshire2023Festival

You can keep up with the latest news from the MCF on their social media pages or by subscribing to their online mailing list. Visit the MCF's social media pages to watch video stories about some of the Freemasons, families and charities they have helped.

@Masonic_Charity

@themcf

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