Digging deep for good causes

Published: 23 Mar 2026

The Oddfellows' charitable spirit has once again been demonstrated by branches and members across the UK, who together donated more than £148,000 to good causes in 2025.

Branches’ show of support

The funds were raised through a wide range of community activities and were donated to organisations from hospital wards and special needs centres to lifeboat and air ambulance charities. The donations have helped provide vital support where it is needed most.

Reading Oddfellows donated £4,300 to Camp Mohawk, a local day centre for children with special needs and their families.

Donating to good causes has long been a cornerstone of Oddfellowship. Whether it’s members dropping spare change into a collection tin at a coffee morning, branches organising charity raffles, or the national support of major medical research initiatives – the Society’s culture of giving remains as strong as ever.

Spokesperson for the Oddfellows, Pam Casey, says the 2025 figure is particularly impressive given the financial pressures many households continue to face.

“Despite the ongoing economic climate, members of the Oddfellows community have continued to dig deep to support causes close to their hearts,” she said.

Praising the efforts of members and branches nationwide, Pam continued: “The work the Oddfellows does for charities and good causes always astounds me. It reflects the very best of Oddfellowship and it makes me incredibly proud.

“Donating to good causes, no matter how big or small, or how much we can contribute, can make a huge difference. Our efforts might well have saved a life, put some food on a young family’s table, or simply have made someone’s day a little brighter.

“I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has helped in any way. Your generosity and kindness are a huge credit both to yourselves and to the Society.”

Sudbury Oddfellows donated a combined total of £1,234.38 to a trio of local charities – the Christopher Centre, Storehouse Foodbank and GoStart Community Transport.

Charitable values

Helping others has been embedded in the Society’s ethos for more than two centuries. The Oddfellows, which has a UK Branch membership of around 39,000 people, was founded on the principles of friendship, care and charitable support, with members united by a shared desire to make a positive difference in their communities. 

...even small contributions can collectively make a significant difference.

 Across the country, fundraising takes many forms. Some branches organise large-scale events, while others raise money through smaller but equally meaningful activities such as coffee mornings, raffles and tombolas. Members also donate essential items to foodbanks, including tinned goods, long-life foods and toiletries, helping people facing hardship.

Personal meaning

Behind many of these initiatives are branches’ Chairs who, during their tenure, play an integral role in deciding which charities their Branch will support throughout the year, often working with members to identify organisations that resonate with the group.

In many cases, the causes chosen have a personal connection. A Branch might support a hospice that cared for a member’s relative, a medical charity researching a condition that has affected someone in the group, or a local organisation helping vulnerable people in the community.

This personal link often provides extra motivation for members when it comes to fundraising. Knowing the difference their efforts can make to people they know – or to services that have supported their families and friends – helps create a strong sense of purpose and shared commitment within the Branch.

Ipswich Oddfellows donated £2,000 to independent Lifeboat charity, Felixstowe Lifeboat.

International aid

The Oddfellows’ commitment to giving back extends beyond local initiatives. In February 2025, the Society also made a £10,000 donation to support the Jamaica Red Cross’ Hurricane Melissa Emergency Appeal.

The funding was made possible thanks to contributions from branches across the UK, alongside additional support from central funds. It will help communities affected by the devastating storm rebuild their lives.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, made landfall in Jamaica on 28 October 2025. The storm –the strongest ever recorded to strike the island – caused catastrophic damage and impacted nearly 1.9 million people.

Funds raised by the Oddfellows have been channelled through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support emergency relief and recovery efforts. These include providing essential supplies, temporary shelter and longer-term support for people whose homes and livelihoods were affected.

Life-changing medical research

The Society also continues to support life-changing UK medical research through the HA Andrews Memorial Fund, one of its flagship charitable initiatives.

In October 2025, representatives of the Oddfellows visited the Manchester Cancer Research Centre to present a cheque for £67,068 to Prevent Breast Cancer. The funding will support a two-year research project focused on developing new preventative treatments for breast cancer in pre-menopausal women.

Oddfellows representatives were taken on a tour of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre to learn more about the Prevent Breast Cancer project.

The study is being carried out by University of Manchester PhD student Anthony Wilby and Dr Hannah Harrison. Their work aims to explore alternative therapies that could reduce the risk of breast cancer before it develops, potentially improving outcomes for thousands of women.

The HA Andrews Memorial Fund was established in 1971 to support UK-based medical research. Since its launch, the fund has donated more than £1.1 million to vital research projects, reflecting the Society’s long-standing commitment to improving health and wellbeing.

Long history of support

Alongside research funding, the Oddfellows has a long history of supporting charities and organisations that help protect and improve lives. Over the years, members have raised significant sums for causes such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), helping to fund lifeboats, training equipment and lifesaving services along the UK coastline.

For many members, however, the most meaningful aspect of fundraising is the opportunity to help local communities directly.

Concluded Pam: “As these individual acts of generosity combine, the impact grows – illustrating how even small contributions can collectively make a significant difference.”

Getting involved

Members interested in getting involved with fundraising initiatives are encouraged to speak to their Branch Secretary to learn more about upcoming activities and opportunities.

More information about how the Oddfellows supports charities and communities can be found in the website's Giving Back section.