Young footballers in Ilkley have received a £750 boost with a grant from the Freemasons of Yorkshire, West Riding.

Ilkley U12s football teams, nominated by Lodge of King Arthur No 9311, will use the donation to buy away kits and a Respect campaign barrier.

The grant was one of 22 ranging from £500 to £5,000 and made through the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, which are given to local organisations benefiting the wider community.

The province covers West and South Yorkshire and parts of North and East Yorkshire – an area of some 2,350 square miles from Ripon in the north to Sheffield in the south, Bentham in the west to Goole in the east. Deputy Provincial Grand Master Jack Pigott said: “Thanks to our members we are able to offer financial support to charities and good causes throughout the province on a regular basis.

“I am always impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication shown by the organisations we help, and I hope that our financial support will go some way to assist them in continuing the valuable work they do.”

Almost £3 million given to non-Masonic causes in the past 25 years was donated by members of the Province, their families and friends.