Charity

Kindness has always been a core principle of Freemasonry. Individuals give time and money to help others, whether locally, nationally or globally. It may be realising a dream for a member’s child, caring for older Freemasons, volunteering on a local community project, making donations to other UK charities or responding to an international disaster appeal.

Today we are one of the UK’s top charities, raising over £33 million a year, and one of its
main grant-giving bodies

See below the specific charities to which our lodge has donated

Andrew Hill, Master of Ben Rhydding Freemason’s Lodge presented a cheque for £1,000 to Ilkley Dementia Hub after hearing about its work from David Humphreys at a recent meeting.

The hub, based in the Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley, provides support and advice for anyone in the Ilkley, Addingham and Burley-in-Wharfedale area who is suffering from or affected by someone who lives with various forms of dementia.

Andrew Hill, said: “I speak on behalf of all the members of Ben Rhydding Lodge when I say that we are delighted to be able to support this local and much needed charity with funds raised from the membership. We are keen to support local charities either directly or through the wider Masonic network and we are always happy to receive and consider applications from local groups.”

Mr Humphreys thanked the lodge members and added that grants such as this were “fundamental to maintaining the services that the Ilkley Dementia Hub can offer”.

For more information on the Dementia Hub including how to donate see https://goodneighboursilkley.org.uk/ilkley-and-district-dementia-hub/ and for more information on Freemasonry in Ilkley see https://www.benrhyddinglodge.co.uk or contact web5138@btinternet.com.

Claire Lomax – Ilkley Gazette 

Ben Rhydding Lodge gifts a freezer to Ilkley Foodbank

Andrew Hill, Master of Ben Rhydding Lodge said: "The members of the lodge are delighted to be able help this local and much needed charity. Charity is at the heart of Freemasonry and it is especially pleasing to be able to support such a local group.


A spokesperson for Ilkley Foodbank said: "On behalf of Ilkley Foodbank, I would like to express our sincere gratitude for the generous donation from Ben Rhydding Masonic Lodge, which has enabled us to purchase this freezer.

"This support makes a meaningful difference to our work and allows us to store and provide a wider range of essential food items to local families in need.

"We are grateful for the Lodge's support and commitment to our community."

Santa's Grotto 01/12/2025

Santa's Grotto getting built in Northcliffe woods using the event shelters purchased by Ben Rhydding Lodge from the grant obtained from Province.

Presentation of the Grand Patronage Certificate

The Master Andrew Hill on behalf of Ben Rhydding Lodge 5138 receiving the Grand Patronage Certificate for donations made to the Yorkshire West Riding 2028 Festival.

Ilkley Food Bank 

Ilkley Foodbank donation event at Tesco is supported by Ben Rhydding Lodge 
Please feel free to visit and feel even more free to donate.🥫🍭🎂🍰

Medical Needs & Hospital Education Services




Ben Rhydding Lodge donated money to buy musical instruments for Medical Needs & Hospital Education Services. These were presented by W Bro Andrew Hill.

This message below is from Jan (Lady in the Photo) who works in the children's ward. 


"We've got a 14 year old on the ward who had a stroke and can hardly move now.  He's been using the instruments this week and he's so happy. We've had loads of laughs with him. The instruments are making such a difference to what we can offer the kids."






Supporting Candlelighters

 Ben Rhydding Lodge was pleased to be able to donate 2 card readers to Julie Mountain of Ilkley Candlelighters (children's cancer charity) at their fund-raising quiz at St Margaret's Church Hall last Saturday. The charity have found that donations have fallen as we increasingly become a cashless society. We all hope that the card readers will rejuvenate this excellent charity.

Teddies for Loving Care

The 250,000th Teddies for Loving Care bear has been given to a young patient at Leeds Children’s Hospital, marking a huge milestone in a Yorkshire-wide initiative bringing comfort to children in hospital 💜🐻
The Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) is managed by local Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons volunteering their time to run the initiative. Hospitals can be frightening places for children. TLC is a way of providing much-needed comfort for young patients at a time of enormous anxiety, helping to improve their hospital experience. Every child that receives a teddy gets to take it home.
To celebrate the milestone, members from the Freemasons’ Yorkshire Province visited the hospital with ‘Big Ted’ to meet staff and patients.
On behalf of patients at Leeds Children’s Hospital, thank you to the Freemasons for their incredible support!

Supporting Ilkley Fountain

Ben Rhydding Lodge was pleased to make a donation to support the building of a replacement fountain at the bottom of Mill Ghyll 

Mill Ghyll Fountain


The  shape of the fountain is inspired by the sphagnum moss which grows on Ilkley Moor and which has the environmental benefit of capturing both water and carbon.

The fountain was opened by Alan Titchmarsh who has strong links to Ilkley.


FREEMASONS from Ben Rhydding Lodge 5138 in Ilkley presented a cheque for £2000 to the charity Crohn’s and Colitis UK at their end of session barbecue.

Crohn’s and Colitis UK was chosen as the Master’s Charity by Dr Alex Gibson, retiring Master of Ben Rhydding Lodge.

Dr Gibson said: “I am delighted by and grateful for the amount of money raised by members of Ben Rhydding Lodge. Crohn’s disease has blighted our family for over 40 years and both my children suffer from it. I know the physical and emotional effects that it can have on families and seeing your children in severe pain, knowing that there is very little that you can do to relieve that pain, is something that no parent should have to endure. It is not a visible condition and this means that it is largely unknown and misunderstood. I am delighted to be able to support Crohn’s and Colitis UK not just to help fund research that might help future generations but also to help raise awareness of this invisible enemy

Supporting Scouts and Guides

To start the raising of funds for the replacement of the old rotting Ben Rhydding Scout Hut.


Ben Rhydding Lodge was proud to donate £6000.00 on behalf of the Ilkley Freemason. The replacement building was completed and opened in 2014 and

the Master and Brethren were invited to the dedication of the New Building.


The building is now a centre for the Rangers, Scouts, Beavers, Guides, Brownies and Rainbows.

It is also used by the local community for keep fit, Yoga, Parties, Weight Watchers etc and is now a very busy community centre.






If you are interested in becoming a freemason, then please get in touch.