MCF

Two Age UK Beneficiaries

Two of the MCF’s important partnerships have undergone recent changes: one with Age UK, which has come to an end, and the other with Hospice UK, which recently introduced a programme that provides bursaries to hospice staff.

Both partnerships align with the MCF’s mission to support vulnerable, and in many cases, elderly people in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. In the context of these two partnerships, the MCF is both looking back on what’s been achieved, and looking forward to what’s to come.

In 2018, the MCF launched a £1million, four-year partnership with Age UK, which would allow their Later Life Goals project to roll out in 13 areas across England and Wales, benefitting 10,000 older people who were experiencing loneliness. Thanks to the MCF’s support, Age UK Later Life Goals’ advisers have been able to offer time, compassion, expert information and advice to help older people to feel less lonely, access more money, and get the most out of later life.

In total, 10,219 older people have benefitted from holistic support, over 4,846 have received support in their homes and more than £21million in unclaimed benefits and income have been claimed, which is an average of over £4,000 per person in extra income each year – a truly life-changing sum.

In the Hospice UK partnership, the same overall aim applies: helping to provide the best quality care to vulnerable and mostly elderly people across England and Wales. This objective hasn’t changed, but the journey to achieving it has – and it begins with staff. To address the issue of staff retention in hospices, the MCF has created a bursary scheme with Hospice UK to support the professional development of staff and health professionals. As a result, hospices will be able to provide better and more specialised support to their residents.

The new bursary scheme will provide grants for hospice staff to take courses such as in palliative care or dementia care to help them deliver better support to patients. This new scheme replaces the annual core hospice grants programme, which had a limited measurable impact. Instead, the same budget of £300,000 per year will now be focussed on the bursary scheme, providing ongoing support which has a clear purpose within the Hospice movement.

Nurse at Bolton Hospice

“ The first MCF bursaries have already been awarded and received with much enthusiasm, and as the programme develops we look forward to allocating more bursaries and learning about the impact of the funding.” – Karl Benn, Head of Grants, Hospice UK Support and Development

Hospices in every masonic Province in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are eligible for funding from the MCF’s partnership with Hospice UK. In order to spread the funding equally, there is a maximum amount available for each hospice. Those who apply must be working in an eligible organisation as one of the following roles: Nurse, Healthcare Assistant, Doctor, Allied Health Professional, Social Worker, Bereavement Counsellor, Administration Staff, Spiritual Care Worker, Pharmacist, or Complementary Therapist. Individuals can apply for a maximum of 50 per cent of course or module fees, up to £1,500 in any one year.

It is not only the Hospice UK partnership that focuses on professional development; through the MCF’s work with Age UK, funding has been provided for their National Volunteering Programme. This programme provides training and resources that help to engage new volunteers and ensuring continued positive experiences for more than 30,000 people who currently volunteer for the charity.

“I love volunteering for your charity. I get as much out of it as my telephone friend does and genuinely look forward to speaking with them every week. I feel like my life has been enriched immensely since I started my volunteering role.” – Age UK Volunteer

Since the MCF was established in 2016, it has developed its grants, services and partnerships in line with a long-term strategic goal to help the most disadvantaged people in society. The success of the Age UK partnership sets a high standard for the results of the Hospice UK bursary programme, and the MCF’s Charity Grants team has been working hard to ensure it will be achievable. The MCF is looking forward to sharing the positive results of this latest partnership, as well as updates on the long term impact of Age UK’s later life goals programme.

Are you interested in learning more about the MCF’s partnerships and Charity Grants programmes? Visit mcf.org.uk/FMT61/Charity or scan the QR code with your phone

The Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Andrew Moule visited the Auckland Youth and Community Centre (AYCC) as a follow up after an MCF grant was awarded to them in September of this year.  The award of £10,000.00 was to cover a period of 2 years for the general day to day operational running costs of the charity. Andrew was met by Bill Niblo, the Chairperson on the Board of Trustees, and was given a full tour of the building showing the facilities offered to the children to enable them to participate in many activities.

Auckland Youth and Community Centre (AYCC) is a much-loved community hub in one of England’s most disadvantaged housing estates. The charity supports local children widening their horizons and improving their mental and physical health.  AYCC run several youth provisions and sitting in the top 0.5% most socio-economically deprived in England, the charity go above and beyond to tackle the complex local challenges of generational poverty and disadvantage.

They run after school clubs, a disability group, detached outreach and a Holiday Hunger scheme which provides packed lunches during school holidays. They also work closely with the local schools to support and supplement the young people’s education. Some of the volunteers and qualified youth workers used to attend the clubs and with the help of AYCC they have gained qualifications and work experience they never would have had the opportunity to access otherwise.

Each year the charity supports 428 young people. Case studies from parents are very positive – “AYCC has given her the tools to cope with many of the difficult situations she has had to face”. This is just one of the many testaments recorded by parents.

The children started to arrive after school, and it was obvious from the happy faces that this facility was a joy to them all. Hot dogs with ketchup were to follow their play time a sure-fire children’s favorite.

Well done to all the amazing staff for your dedication and challenging work.