In 2008, The Freemasons’ Grand Charity pledged to donate £500,000 to the Scout Association. Seven years and half a million pounds later, this grant has been hugely successful in its aim to encourage and expand Scouting. The money was used to encourage more young people to join and to support local Scouting. This included providing start-up and activity grants and equipment. In total, over one million young people received new materials and equipment and over 23,500 have joined Scouting thanks to this grant. £125,000 was used to help revise existing publications such as “Nights Away” as well as contributing to new materials such as “Join In Jamboree” and “Our Sporting Adventure”, nearly 1 million young people benefitting from these resources.£125,000 was used to provide all new Scout sections with a universal grant of £100 towards set-up costs, with 1,675 new sections receiving grants to buy materials, or buy uniforms, especially in areas of poverty and deprivation, and others used the funds to buy essential equipment and resources. Over 23,500 young people are now involved in Scouting thanks to these grants. £250,000 was distributed to 49 Scout Counties in England and Wales to support a range of activities to encourage and expand Scouting. The Freemasons’ Grand Charity is proud to have supported the Scout Association to encourage and expand Scouting across the country, the project enabling thousands more to access the opportunities that Scouting provides, making a significant difference to the lives of many young people and adult volunteers. Another fine example of how Freemasonry plays a part in communities of which it is a part.
Roger Gale. South Wales Provincial Communications Officer