The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) seeks to offer high quality care, support and assistance to older Freemasons and their dependants.  We are committed to ensuring the individuals right to dignity, respect, choice and control over their own lives is upheld and maintained. 
 

The RMBI has been helping older Freemasons and their dependants for over 160 years. We are continuously striving to improve the services we offer to the Fraternity and our caring and professional staff will be delighted to answer any enquiry you may have. 

Care Homes
The RMBI is a major provider of high quality services for older people throughout England and Wales, with accommodation for over 1,000 older Freemasons and their dependants in our Homes. Many of the RMBI's 17 Homes are registered for both residential and nursing care. All our Homes can accommodate people who may be becoming a little confused, but where specialist care is needed (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, dementia), special House groups within a Home have been created. Those of our Homes with these special House groups are marked with an asterisk below.

As well as providing nursing and residential care, the RMBI also offers some sheltered accommodation for those people who prefer to live more independently, but with the back up of the Home’s facilities and staff in an emergency. Sheltered accommodation is available to purchase on a leasehold basis at Harewood Court.

The RMBI can also offer short-stay breaks, including respite care. These are helpful for both those living alone, and for families that need a little respite from the demands of caring for an older relative.
 

Applications for admission (permanent or temporary) or for further details about a specific Home should be addressed to the relevant Home Manager, who will be more than happy to deal with any enquiries. Alternatively, general enquiries should be made to the Care Operations Department at Great Queen Street.

Cost to the RMBI
Fee income from residents, who are able to contribute financially, and Local Authority contributions, where appropriate, offset the cost of running the Homes. However, the RMBI needs to raise around £5 million every year to support all its charitable activities.  This means that the RMBI is increasingly dependent on donations from the Craft and other Orders, as well as the valuable income it receives via the Festival System.

Care Advice Team
The Care Advice Team offers an advice and advocacy service for people still living at home. They are very knowledgeable about health and welfare rights and benefits. They can also give advice on all aspects of the services offered by the RMBI and other Masonic charities, and by statutory and voluntary agencies.

The Care Advice Team writes automatically to new recipients of the Grand Charity’s relief grant to introduce themselves. The Team is also able to undertake home visits with or on behalf of Lodge Almoners or at the request of others worried about the welfare of someone they know.

Loans for Home Improvements
As a consequence of a generous gift by the late W. Bro. Lt. Col. V.C. Donaldson, FRICS, PJGD, a substantial fund exists to lend money to Annuitants or recipients of grants from the Grand Charity who are owner-occupiers, in order for them to carry out repairs to their homes, thereby enhancing their quality of life. The borrower, however, pays neither capital nor the interest during his or her lifetime unless the property is sold. The loan can include the cost of redeeming a current mortgage, thus removing from the Annuitant the burden of monthly payments of interest.

Care must be exercised to ensure that all other avenues of assistance are exhausted first - for example, government grants may be available.

Recently the terms of the Fund were extended for special cases not in receipt of a grant or Annuity that are deemed worthy of support. 

Holidays
A limited number of two-week holidays are available to Annuitants and recipients of the Grand Charity’s Masonic Relief Grant each year at four UK locations. A winter holiday in Malta is also available for those who would benefit from some sunshine. Individuals who would not be suitable for the group holiday - the physically frail or blind - can be considered for funding on holidays tailored for their specific needs.
 
 

Guest Speaker
The RMBI is always delighted to be asked to provide a speaker on its aims, achievements and needs, for Lodge or other meetings, as well as supplying professional display boards for open days or other events. Freemasons who wish to learn more about fundraising activities, or take advantage of support services, are invited to contact The Head of External Affairs.

Financial Support
In April 2002, the responsibility for administering current RMBI annuities passed to the Grand Charity, with the payment of grants to existing recipients being made from investment funds transferred from the RMBI to the Grand Charity. These are now known as Masonic Relief Grants.
 

RMBI Homes
ALBERT EDWARD PRINCE OF WALES COURT, Porthcawl 01656 785311
BARFORD COURT, Hove 01273 777736
CADOGAN COURT, Exeter 01392 251436
CONNAUGHT COURT, York* 01904 626238
CORNWALLIS COURT, Bury St Edmunds * 01284 768028
DEVONSHIRE COURT, Oadby * 0116 2714171
ECCLESHOLME, Eccles 0161 7889517
HAREWOOD COURT, Hove 01273 739515
JAMES TERRY COURT, Croydon 020 86881745
LORD HARRIS COURT, Wokingham 0118 9787496
PRINCE EDWARD, DUKE OF KENT COURT, Braintree *   01376 345534
PRINCE GEORGE, DUKE OF KENT COURT, Chislehurst 020 84670081

PRINCE MICHAEL OF KENT COURT, Watford * 01923 234780

QUEEN ELIZABETH COURT, Llandudno   01492 877276
SCARBROUGH COURT, Cramlington 01670 712215
SHANNON COURT, Hindhead* 01428 604833
THE TITHEBARN, Liverpool 0151 9243683
ZETLAND COURT, Bournemouth * 01202 769169

* Includes Dementia Support Unit
 

Masonic Care Limited
In 1999, a small Home for people with learning disabilities was opened by Masonic Care Limited, a new organisation created by the RMBI. Harry Priestley House is in Doncaster, Yorkshire and has been set up with grants from the Grand Charity and the Province of Yorkshire (West Riding).