North Wales Freemasons have helped secure a £73,000 grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) to fund an ageing and dementia centre in North East Wales, marking one of the most significant charitable contributions to dementia care in the region.
The grant will support the establishment of a dedicated centre offering resources, guidance, and practical help for people living with dementia and their families. It represents a major investment by the MCF, which is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country, distributing millions of pounds each year to causes across England and Wales.
A long tradition of giving
North Wales Freemasons count more than 3,000 members across the region. Their charitable arm, the North Wales Freemasons Charity, was founded in 1874 and has maintained an unbroken record of supporting local causes for over 150 years.
The MCF’s dementia programme has funded hundreds of projects across England and Wales, though the foundation has now paused new applications to the programme as it reviews future priorities. The North East Wales centre is among the last wave of projects to receive funding under the current round.
Freemasons and dementia: a national effort
The North Wales grant sits within a broader pattern of Masonic support for dementia services across the United Kingdom. In South Wales, Freemasons contributed £76,000 to Cardiff University to fund Alzheimer’s research. East Lancashire Freemasons gave £60,000 to Carers Link Lancashire, an organisation supporting more than 400 carers of people with dementia across the county.
In the North West of England, Preston North End Community and Education Trust teamed up with local Freemasons to deliver dementia awareness sessions through the power of football, using the club’s community reach to break down stigma and encourage early diagnosis.
These projects share a common thread: Freemasons working alongside established local organisations to deliver practical, lasting support rather than one-off donations.
What the centre will offer
While full details of the North East Wales centre’s programme are still being finalised, centres funded through the MCF dementia programme typically offer memory cafes, carer support groups, activity sessions designed to maintain cognitive function, and signposting to NHS and social care services. Many also provide training for family members and professional carers.
With an ageing population and growing demand for dementia services, the new centre is expected to fill a significant gap in provision across North East Wales. The £73,000 grant ensures that the project can move from planning to delivery with the funding already in place.
For North Wales Freemasons, the grant is the latest chapter in a 150-year story of charitable giving — and one that will make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable people in the community.
Related reading: Egremont Youth Club Doubles Attendance After £1,500 Boost · Bournemouth Freemasons Distribute Nearly £100,000 to Local Charities in One Event