London Freemasons Help Young People with Learning Disabilities Thrive in Hammersmith & Fulham
Young people with learning disabilities and autism across Hammersmith and Fulham will soon have access to more specialist support, creative activities, and confidence-building opportunities thanks to a significant new grant from London Freemasons.
The £60,000 grant, awarded through the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), will support Hammersmith and Fulham Mencap’s Youth Development Project (YDP), a programme that provides after-school clubs, holiday schemes, and inclusive community outings for young people aged 14–25. Over the next two years, the funding will help deliver more than 350 interactive sessions, ranging from drama, art, and dance to gardening, wellbeing days and cultural visits.
For London Freemasons, the project reflects a strong commitment to supporting young people who face barriers to participation and independence. Many of the young people HF Mencap works with experience social isolation, anxiety, or low self-esteem. The YDP provides a safe and welcoming space where they can express themselves creatively, meet friends, and develop vital life skills.
The MCF grant forms part of a wider funding package designed to secure the sustainability and expansion of the programme, with match funding from the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust and grants from the Bailey Thomas Charitable Fund, Clothworkers and the Percy Bilton Charity. The MCF contribution specifically covers the salary of an experienced Youth Development Coordinator, alongside essential delivery costs such as transport and venue hire. This will allow HF Mencap to reach more young people and maintain the high quality of its delivery.
The project also supports the wider family network around each young person, offering signposting to services such as CAMHS, youth councils, and SEND schools and colleges. HF Mencap works in collaboration with several community partners including the Sands End Arts & Community Centre, Turtle Key Arts, and Kew Gardens, giving participants access to rich cultural and sensory experiences.
HF Mencap’s Youth Development Programme has already demonstrated its value. Past participants have reported improved mental wellbeing, greater independence, and stronger social circles. Parents have shared powerful stories of transformation—including one mother who described how her son, once too anxious to leave the house, now attends weekly sessions “with confidence and joy” thanks to the team’s dedicated support.
Rebecca Rawcliffe, HR and Business Development Manager at HF Mencap, says “We’re incredibly grateful to London Freemasons for this generous grant. It plays a vital role in helping us continue our work supporting young people with learning disabilities to build confidence and find joy.
The grant reflects the ongoing mission of London Freemasons to strengthen communities and support vulnerable people across the capital. Through the Masonic Charitable Foundation – funded by Freemasons, their families, and friends across England and Wales – the organisation continues to provide meaningful, long-term support to charities delivering life-changing work.
This article is part of Arena Magazine Issue 59 – Christmas 2025.
Arena Magazine is the official online magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.
Read more articles in Arena Issue 59 here.
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