Melting Knives, Raising Futures: Summer Fitness for At-Risk Teens across London

Parachute
Regiment
Lodge
9315

WHAT IS FREEMASONRY?

One of the oldest secular social and charitable organisations in the world, modern Freemasonry’s roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our castles and cathedrals…

The lodge has held several social events such as witnessing the Tower of London Keys ceremony a lady’s festival at a hotel usually outside of London that provides opportunity for our families to enjoy the company that these types of events provide. Importantly we maintain links with the regiment and serving soldiers.

EVENTS

Delve into the rich traditions of Freemasonry as we gather to celebrate our shared values and principles

WHERE WE MEET

Our meetings are held on the 1st Saturday of March, June, September and December, at 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ. they usually start at 11am thus providing members ample time to travel to London to join the meetings. The June meeting is the installation meeting.

ABOUT

The Parachute Regiment Lodge was consecrated on 5th June 1989. Though named for our Regiment the decision was taken not to restrict membership to serving or former members, though the majority do fit that criteria. Our membership is drawn from a wide range of military, security and civilian backgrounds who all adopt our ethos, to be the best in all that we do…

ARENA

Engage in enlightening discussions, partake in meaningful rituals, and forge lasting connections with fellow brethren

London Freemasons’ Charity has awarded a £10,000 grant to London-based charity Steel Warriors to support a Summer 2026 project delivering free calisthenics classes for young people across the capital – including Canning Town (Carpenters Estate, E15), Finsbury Park (Finsbury Park, N4), Lambeth (Ruskin Park) and Tower Hamlets (Langdon Park, E14).

Steel Warriors is a pioneering charity that tackles knife crime through an innovative approach: melting down confiscated knives and transforming the steel into outdoor gyms in public spaces. Through these gyms, the organisation delivers free coaching, community classes, and youth programmes designed to create safe spaces where young people can build strength, confidence and positive connections.

The funding from the London Freemasons’ Charity will enable Steel Warriors to run weekly calisthenics classes for teenagers at each of its four outdoor gyms across London. The programme is running now and continues through to the summer holidays until the end of August.

Across the project,Steel Warriors expects to reach around 200 young Londoners aged 13-19, with an average of 20 participants attending each weekly session at every site. These sessions are designed not only to improve physical fitness but also to support mental wellbeing, resilience, and engagement with education and community.

Steel Warriors will monitor attendance and outcomes using its impact measurement tool, Upshot, and anticipates that:

90% of regular attendees will report improved mental and physical wellbeing
80% will report improved engagement with education and relationships with peers and adults

Jenny Oklikah, CEO of Steel Warriors, said:

“We’re incredibly grateful to the London Freemasons’ Charity for supporting this summer programme. Their funding will allow us to provide consistent, free access to safe training spaces for young people during a time when positive opportunities are crucial. These sessions are about far more than fitness, they create belonging, confidence and trusted relationships that help young people thrive.”

Will Clayton, London Freemasons, said:

“The work that Steel Warriors are carrying out within our communities is fantastic and anything that supports getting knives off the street and provides young adults with a better pathway for the future is something that we are very proud to be involved in.”