Freemasons Raise £500K to Aid Ukrainian Refugees and Displaced
Thousands of Ukrainian refugees and displaced people still inside the warzone are set to receive vital support. How? Thanks to half a million pounds raised by Freemasons across England and Wales – and the total is still climbing.
The £500,000 haul was collected in less than three weeks. Charities on the ground in Ukraine and neighbouring countries like Poland, Moldova, Romania, and also in the UK, will get the funds. This aid comes as the Ukraine war sparks Europe’s largest refugee crisis since WWII, with waves of people fleeing westwards daily.
Five Charities to Get a £100K Boost Each
- UNICEF UK: Funding a ‘Blue Dot Hub’ offering safe spaces for up to 5,000 children and families on the move every day. These hubs provide child-friendly zones, mother and baby facilities, and crucial family reunification support.
- Plan International UK: Setting up 55 temporary learning centres in Poland, Moldova, and Romania to give children a safe place to learn and play away from the horrors of war.
- The Refugee Council: Hiring two full-time therapists to help hundreds of traumatised refugees deal with the emotional fallout of conflict.
- British Red Cross: Offering practical help to hundreds of Ukrainian refugees in the UK, tackling loneliness, isolation, and easing their transition into British life.
- UK for UNHCR: Repairing severely damaged homes in Ukraine destroyed by shelling and conflict, providing families a chance to rebuild.
Freemasons Rally for Relief
The fundraising came through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, backed by Freemasons, their families, and friends across England and Wales.
“Freemasons have an outstanding record helping those in need in this country and around the world, but this huge sum to support Ukrainian refugees was raised in record time. I’m very proud that Freemasons have been able to play such an important part in this essential work,” said Les Hutchinson, Chief Executive of the Masonic Charitable Foundation.
This remarkable effort highlights how communities rally to aid those caught in Europe’s worst crisis in decades.
