Does anyone know if the Masons issue grants etc to groups like ours?
Donations are available to charities yes.
in terms of approaching a Lodge for donations this would be in the order of Ā£100-200 (based on my experience, our Lodge gives a bit to many, rather than a lot to few)
Given no Lodge will operate on its own, ie the sole unit in the town, there is likely to be at least 3 or more Lodges to each Masonic Centre and so if successful could be Ā£600+
However the best way to be successful is to know a Mason to propose the idea. āCold callingā with a ābegging letterā is unlikely to get the same response, and certainly for our Lodge, donations are only made once a year at the end of the season, when the final total of money raised is known and so timing would have an impact.
Others may disagree with me, but i would not turn to the Masons as a potential source for funding/grants.
Our Lodge donations go one of two ways - local charities known to be limited in funds where an injection of Ā£100-200 is a big deal (such as a donkey sanctuary or Homeless Shelter), or a national, typically medical/health based, Charity and often with a personal link, such as a Cancer, blood or dementia charity and the local Air Ambulance
I am not saying it is impossible for the ATC to get money out of a Lodge, perhaps if you had a military Lodge locally youād have more luck, but having looked through the donations weāve made (with two CFAVs and Scout Master as members) the above approach tends to be where our donations go.
Other Lodges may well operate differently, preferring to give large amounts and may even invite requests from the local community, but that would be usual in my experience.
Thatās because of their super-secrecy! 
To be fair to those with reservations, this is why they have those reservationsā¦
(some of my best friends are Masons, etc. etc.)
I am not sure I followā¦
Are you suggesting people have reservations about Masons/Masonry because its who you know?
my point being, it is easier if someone is known on the inside to propose the idea and can talk with some authority, knowledge and/or understanding on the subject, rather than a ācold callingā begging letter, which is true of any situation.
Far easier to ask a friend for a favour than to approach someone you donāt know who doesnāt know you for the same thingā¦
1 Like
The former; the accusation always levelled at the Masons is that they help each other on the quiet leading to unfair decisions in e.g. promotions at work, etc. Iām not saying thatās true; itās the perception, though.
I totally agree - someone who knows what to write to get the best response is valuable.
I would say the opposite in my experience. I recently got moved teams at work because my boss found out I was a mason. He is to the left of Karl Marx (his own admission) and a strong believer in the protocols of the elders of Zion so believes masons are part of a worldwide conspiracy with the Jews. To his credit he was open about the reason for the move, that he didnāt feel he would be able to supervise me fairly anymore, seeing as he believes Iām evil.
Should add Iād been planning to ask for a move in the October reshuffle anyway so wasnāt bothered.
Your an MP?? I had no idea!!!
5 Likes
I doubt anyone would ever vote for me if I ran. Not even my own mother.
Are you not remembering you are a Mason? a couple of handshakes and you would be PM 
That is grounds for a grievance against him, if itās not a work related issue then he must be dosciplines.
1 Like
To be honest, itās worked out for the best for me so canāt be bothered with the hassle.
And what happens to the next person this individual bullies and harrases due to things outside the working environment and gets away with it. Iām afraid to say āIām all right Jackā doesnāt cut it.
1 Like
I donāt like it. If he had been dismissed, I think it would have been an unfair dismissal. But Iām not sure where that action fits in as a problem. Iāll have a ponder.
As I keep advising people at work (& elsewhere); you, as an aggrieved party, might be able to brush things off with no damage to career or hurt feelings. The trouble is, how many other people has the ābossā been mean to, or, how about the future.
It cannot be ignored; action should be taken against him in this case.
5 Likes
Apologies, a bit late to the party.
To answer this question, there are plenty of Lodges throughout the UK with militray connections. The core ethos of masonry goes hand in hand with the military and cadet organisations. The biggest issue is time commitment. As adult volunteers your time is a premium.
Seach google for military lodges in your local area and make contact, any lodge will be happy to talk to you. Dont belive what you sometime read on the interweb as the majority of it is rubbish! If you want to socialise, make new friends with likewise interests, want to support charity as we do in the ATC then this is a step you should look at taking.
Im a member of Venture Adventure 6022 Lodge based at Great Queens Street London (The home of English Freemasonary), we were the 1st Air Force linked lodge, that now is predominatly made up of Adult Volenteers all ranks and CIs. We have a large gaggle of ex and current serving regulars and oddly 3 marines ( dont ask! ). We meet 4 times a year in London ( so not a massive expense is your travelling in) we have our meeting then have a sit down dining experiance after. We meet up throughout the year on social (Liquid!) get togthers. There is plenty of banter and fun had. If your currently already on the square and fancy a visit or looking to take your 1st step in to Freemasonary drop us an email or drop me a DM always happy to chat about who we are and what we do.
Or follow this link to learn more -
Hopefully see you soon 
2 Likes
What about us poor, unloved Officers - Offrs Mess anyone ?? 
You are overreacting !
There must be plenty of ex - Air Cadets who are Masons !
1 Like
In the Wing I am thinking of, it is āSgts Messā only by name - long ago it was a Sgts mess in the traditional sense but then the officers wanted to be involved, and seeing no sense in a ārivalā group Officers are included but for consistency the name stuck hence the comments after the quoted words you offer
So a Wing Messā¦ It has been tried before, but from the abhorrant behaviour standards of some CFAV that I have witnessed in RAF messes, Iām not sure it would survive very long.
Nice idea though !