East Lancashire Masonic Charity

The charity provides grants to causes that address poverty and hardship, education and skills, physical and mental health, community development, arts and culture, heritage, the environment, older people, children and youth, disability, animals, faith, armed forces, and sport and recreation. Grants can pay for capital items such as wheelchairs, sensory rooms and defibrillators, as well as capacity-building and operational costs. All supported work must benefit residents within the Province of East Lancashire, which includes Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bury, Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Manchester, Oldham, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rochdale, Rossendale, Salford, South Ribble, Tameside, Trafford, West Lancashire, Wigan and Wyre.

Organisations of many shapes and sizes can apply, including registered charities, CIOs, CICs, unincorporated associations, trusts, schools, community groups, faith groups, social enterprises and community benefit societies operating within the Province of East Lancashire. The trust aims its support at a broad cross-section of the community, from children and young people to older people, disabled people, carers, veterans, jobseekers, homeless people and refugees. While any eligible group may apply, preference is given to organisations in which Freemasons are actively involved.

Grants do not go to national charities unless they are supporting a specific local event or action, or an autonomous branch. Organisations already supported by Grand Charity are generally excluded unless there is a specific local need administered locally. Applications that do not benefit people living within the boundaries of the Province of East Lancashire are not considered, and organisations connected with a political party are also outside the trust's giving.

The trust makes one-off grants, not multi-year commitments, and does not require match funding. It supports both capital items and broader capacity building or operating costs that deliver immediate impact. The charity welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible local organisations.