To commemorate what would have been HRH The Duke of Edinburghs 100th birthday, the Masonic Charitable Foundation and the United Grand Lodge of England are delighted to announce a new strategic partnership with The Duke of Edinburghs Award (DofE).

The partnership will allow more than 30,000 young people with disabilities and special educational needs to take part in the DofE Award thanks to a grant of £300,000 from the Duke of Edinburgh Memorial Fund, established by UGLE and the MCF to mark the Dukes decades as a member of the Craft and his lifelong commitment to charity.

The impact of achieving a DofE Award is remarkable and will be life-changing for young people with physical or learning difficulties, who are often excluded from adventurous activities due to a lack of accessible equipment, facilities, trained support staff and funding.

The grant will increase the number of centres, such as schools and youth groups, offering DofE to young people with special educational needs or disabilities and will train hundreds of leaders to supporting groups of young people through their DofE journeys.