Cumberland and Westmorland Provincial Grand Lodge Masonic Benevolent Fund

The Cumberland and Westmorland Provincial Grand Lodge Masonic Benevolent Fund is a longstanding provincial masonic charity rooted in the historic counties of Cumberland and Westmorland within Cumbria, dedicated to relieving poverty and distress among Freemasons and their dependants while supporting local registered charities. Guided by core masonic values of integrity, friendship, respect, and service, it embodies a fraternal commitment to direct aid and civic responsibility, operating through four trustees with deep local knowledge to deliver targeted, needs-responsive grants without bureaucracy.

It funds two primary areas: modest, urgent support for Freemasons and families facing financial hardship, such as basic needs relief; and donations to Cumbria-based charities addressing community health (e.g., defibrillators, hospices), social welfare, poverty alleviation, and grassroots action, with recent examples including £32,000 for 26 community defibrillators and grants to voluntary organisations tackling disadvantage.

Eligible applicants are strictly UK-registered charities and community groups operating in Cumbria, with a preference for smaller, resource-limited entities delivering direct local impact; large national organisations are not prioritised. Grants typically range from £500 to £5,000, covering core costs, equipment, and acute needs but excluding loans or ongoing programmes.

The Fund does not accept unsolicited applications, relying instead on trustee discretion, local recommendations, and internal lodge referrals for Freemason aid, with rolling decisions at regular meetings and no public deadlines or forms. This values-driven, regionally focused approach distinguishes it as a discreet, high-touch supporter of masonic benevolence and hyper-local community resilience.