Branches donate over £180,000 to good causes

Updated: 28 Jan 2025

In 2022, Oddfellows branches and their members raised over £180,000 to support causes close to their hearts, a figure up on 2021’s already significant total of over £160,000.

Fundraising, and making donations, is a significant part of Oddfellows Branch activity. Money is raised in many different ways, including small change collections at coffee mornings, raffles at events, members completing charity challenges and contributions from Branch funds.
 
Members grouped together around a massive colourfully-painted owl statue and a big cheque.
Ipswich Branch donated £1,100 to their local St Elizabeth's Hospice as part of the Big Hoot trail.

Oddfellows and charity representative stood next to the motorbike which was purchased by the donation.
Derby Branch donated £7,810 to Derbyshire Blood Bikes, which was used to purchase the pictured bike.

Caring for others

Jane Nelson, the Oddfellows’ CEO, said: “I couldn't believe the final figure when it was revealed. We’re in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and our members and branches are digging even deeper into their pockets. I feel immensely proud to be part of such a caring Society that does what it can to help those in need. 

“Grassroots charities and good causes rely heavily on financial contributions to exist, especially in today's challenging economic climate. So it’s great to see so many different causes, right across the UK, being given the support they desperately need. And, of course, it goes much further than just financial help, it's an appreciation of the incredible work that they do. Also for those they help, they'll know there are people out there who care about their wellbeing,” added Jane.

Two representatives from Concord Branch present a cheque to a representative from the Charity.
Concord Branch donated £1,563.50 to the Alzheimer's Society.

Three representatives from the Oddfellows and the charity holding a big cheque together.
Tunbridge Wells Branch donated £1,000 to the Pickering Cancer Trust.

Five representatives from the charities and oddfellows stood in a line holding their cheques.
Trafalgar Branch donated £1,250 each to The Benjamin Foundation, The Hamlet Centre Charity, the Norfolk and Norwich Liver Group and the North Walsham Community Shop.

A history of giving

Helping those in need is something the Oddfellows has been doing for over two centuries.

Fifth generation Oddfellows member, Society historian and South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire Branch member, Paul Eyre, reflects on the tradition of local giving.

He said: “For many years, it has been fairly common practice for the Provincial Grand Master of a District (District Chairman) to choose a charity to support during their year of office, with funds being raised by raffles, donations or other fundraising activities.

“Indeed, branches may also choose to undertake fundraising for a chosen charity.”

People from teh toddler group stood around a big cheque with an Oddfellows member in the centre.
Nottingham Trent Branch donated £500 to the Netherfield Parent and Toddler Group.

3 representatives from the charity and the Oddfellows stood holding a big cheque.
Bradford Branch donated £1,600 to the National Autistic Society.

Emergency appeals

Throughout history, it has not been unusual for the Society to pull together to support national or international emergency appeals.

Paul shared: “Searching through the Oddfellows’ online historical archive, there are many instances where the Society has united in its fundraising.

“Pictured is one extract from the Odd Fellow Magazine for 1847, detailing an appeal organised for victims of the Irish Famine of 1845-9.”

Exerpt from the Odd Fellow Magazine for 1847, detailing an appeal organised for victims of the Irish Famine of 1845-9.

In more recent times, the Oddfellows has supported a number of appeals through financial contributions from members, branches and central funds. These have included:
  • £30,207.50 for the British Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal in 2022.
  • £19,210 to share equally between The Silver Line and the National Emergencies Trust through a Coronavirus Emergency Appeal in 2020.
  • £7,600 for the Australian bushfire recovery in 2019/20.
  • £10,000 for the charity We Love Manchester Emergency Fund to help victims and families affected by the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing.
We're currently working with our national Branch network to raise critical funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee's (DEC) Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal. £5,000 has already been pledged from a central fund.

An Oddfellows and Charity representative shake hands over a big cheque.
Reading Branch donated £4,000 to children’s charity PALS (Partnership for Active Life).

Large group of Oddfellows members in leeds handing over a cheque to a charity representative
Leeds Branch donated £462 to Hidden Homeless.

Three representatives from the charity and the Oddfellows making the donation
Erewash Valley Branch donated £418.63 to the John Eastwood Hospice in Sutton in Ashfield.

Ongoing support

In addition to local giving and responding to national and international appeals, the Oddfellows regularly provides financial support to organisations conducting life-changing medical research.

The Society’s HA Andrews Memorial Fund provides financial support over a two or three year period to a UK project or organisation involved in, or conducting, medical research. Our current beneficiary is the University of Southampton Centre for Cancer Immunology.

The Fund was created in 1971 to honour a remarkable Society Secretary. Since then, the Fund has donated £1,214,000.

In 2009, the Society received the RNLI’s Lifetime Achievement Award for our continued support of the charity since 1868, which has included the purchase of three lifeboats. The Oddfellows’ East Anglia Group Conference is currently fundraising for a new Atlantic 85 boat for the RNLI’s Sheringham Station.

Four members and a representative from the charity grouped together with a cheque.
Handforth and Altrincham Branch donated £100 to Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of much-loved members who have recently died from cancer.

And Oddfellows and Charity representaitve with a big cheque.
Heart of England Branch donated over £6,453.80 for the Alzheimer's Society.

Charity and Oddfellows representative shaking hands
Severn and Trent Branch donated £1,000 each to both The Shrewsbury Ark and the Newport Cottage Care Centre.

Giving back

If you’re interested in how the Oddfellows fundraises and gives back to its communities, visit our website’s giving back section.

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