Thousands of Ukrainian refugees and displaced people still inside Ukraine will be given help and support - thanks to half a million pounds raised by Cheshire Freemasons and other provinces across England and Wales.

The money is being directed to charities working on the ground in Ukraine, as well as organisations helping refugees in neighbouring countries including Poland, Moldova, Romania, and in the UK.

The £500,000 was raised in less than three weeks and the total is still growing as Freemasons continue to dig deep to help the refugees.

Freemasonry is one of the oldest and largest charitable givers in the country. In 2020, it contributed £51.1m to deserving causes.

Cheshire Freemasons Charity Logo (The Masonic Charitable Foundation).

Currently, there are almost 200,000 freemasons across England and Wales.

There are approximately 4,500 Freemasons in Cheshire, meeting in 175 Lodges at 31 different meeting places across the county.

This includes people from Crewe and Sandbach, the Wirral, Hyde and individuals from Runcorn and Chester.

The war in Ukraine has created by far the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War, and more people are fleeing Ukraine for countries to the west every day.

The chosen charities, each of which will receive £100,000, are:

• The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) – which could help setup a 'Blue Dot Hub' to provide a safe space for up to 5,000 children and families on the move every day. Blue Dot Hubs offer critical services such as child-friendly spaces, mother and baby facilities and a crucial family reunification support.
• Plan International UK – which could help set up 55 temporary learning spaces in Poland, Moldova and Romania, so children can learn and play in a safe space away from the war. 
• The Refugee Council – which could help to fund two full-time therapists to provide specialist therapy for hundreds of traumatised refugees.
• British Red Cross – to fund work with hundreds of Ukrainian refugees in the UK to help them overcome loneliness and isolation and to offer other practical support to help ease them into life in Britain.
• UK for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency – which could help provide essential repairs to severely damaged homes in Ukraine that have been damaged by shelling and conflict.

Cheshire Freemasons contributed to the grant through the Masonic Charitable Foundation funded by Freemasons, their families and friends - from across England and Wales.

Leader of Cheshire Freemasons, Stephen Martin Blank (Gemma Sproston).

Stephen Martin Blank, leader of Cheshire Freemasons, said: "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 Cheshire Freemasons have been able to play such an important part in this essential work."

Freemasonry membership is open to men over 18 from all backgrounds.

The organisation's aim is to empower members to be the best they can be.

Freemasons are all about building character, supporting members as individuals and helping them make a positive contribution to society.

In case you missed it: Plans to improve local bus services will go ahead - but at a slower pace.

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Crewe Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

Please consider following Crewe Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.