Brethren, this latest newsletter gives details of grants awarded during October to charities and organisations across the Province. Its aim is to ensure that all Brethren and their families within Yorkshire, West Riding are aware of the work that WRMCL is doing to support those within our communities. Since the previous update, the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund has made grants, totalling over £6,500, to three community organisations, where it is hoped there will be the biggest impact in terms of community benefit: Ambitions 4 Kirklees - offers adults with learning difficulties, in the local area, an opportunity to learn how to overcome those difficulties and focus on their abilities. They also support four clients living in three separate properties having `supported living' status. The grant of £2,400 will be used to update IT equipment; laptops, tablets and projectors, to improve both teaching and learning activities; sponsored by St John’s Lodge No 827, Dewsbury. Pictured are some of the people benefitting from the services provided by Ambitions. Yorkshire Cancer Community is an information and support network for people affected by cancer and those who support patients and carers in the Yorkshire and Humber area. Their aim is to enable the views and experiences of cancer patients, families and friends, to be heard and used to improve the quality of cancer care in the region. They inform the network by way of newsletters, social media, a website and networking meetings, as well as visits to cancer support groups. Despite having a skilled team of volunteers, they lack the technical expertise to update and amend their website; a crucial part of their work and vital at this time, in offering information regarding coronavirus and cancer, shielding and hospital and local authority helplines. The grant of £1,902 will fund a web hosting and annual support contract, ensuring the stability and security of the website; sponsored by Tateshall Lodge No 7645, Pontefract. Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, Leeds provides expert palliative care and bereavement support to people living with a life-limiting conditions and supports their loved ones and families. They provide specialist medical care for managing pain and other symptoms, together with other emotional, practical and spiritual support. The grant, of £2,200, will be used to purchase a pressure- relieving mattress, designed to ensure patients are able to spend their last days with as much comfort, dignity and independence as possible.; sponsored by Lodge of Dawn No 6511, Leeds. We previously reported a grant from the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund for Emmaus Sheffield, a charity providing support to homeless people. The cheque was recently presented by the Master of Welcome Lodge No 3779, Richard Campos, pictured below left, with (l to r); Darrell Price of Welcome; Stephen Evans, a ‘companion’ living at Emmaus and Graham Bostock, Emmaus CEO. Richard said, “Due to the generosity of Yorkshire Freemasons, we are delighted to have been able to help such a valuable project as the Emmaus Community in Sheffield, with a £5,000 grant from the PGM’s Fund to enable them to buy a fogging machine and PPE, so they could reopen the shop for the refurbishment and sale of second-hand goods. Thus, enabling them to generate funds to keep the community financed. Emmaus provides a home for as long as someone needs it, in a safe environment and gives people the opportunity to take stock of their lives. As Sheffield Freemasons, we are pleased to support a Sheffield project, doing such tremendous work within our city. We wish them well and a profitable future in these uncertain times.”
Finally, Brethren during these very difficult times the CHOICES Care and Support Officers have maintained regular contact with clients and beneficiaries by phone, to reassure them that we are still here for them and to provide support and advice. Please remember, if you need help, guidance or support from our Care and Support Officers or the CHOICES Team call the confidential help line on 03449 020220 or contact your Lodge or Area Almoner. The process is quick, simple, extremely efficient and confidential. Take Care!
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The Provincial Grand Master’s Fund continues to support local organisations during the pandemic and below are details of the latest grants.
The Athersley Community Association and Football Club - based at Sheerien Park, on Ollerton Road, it has two full-size football pitches and five junior football pitches. The grant will assist in the purchase of a portable set of aluminium goals. (£3.020); sponsored by Friendly Lodge No 1513. Kirklees Visual Impairment Network - providing support to anyone struggling with their eyesight, the Network have drop-in centres in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Batley. The grant will purchase IT and office equipment, to help expand their services. (£2,000); sponsored by St John’s Lodge No 827. Weston Park Cancer Charity - caring for cancer patients and their families, the grant will help create CDs and Information cards which provide crucial information for patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment. (£1,000); sponsored by Friendly Lodge No 1513. TSX Martial Arts - Bradford - running from venues in Thornton and Wrose, the grant is to buy equipment for use in new premises, to provide increased and better training in Taekwondo and anti-bullying courses for young persons and schools. (£1,800); sponsored by Lodge of Connaught and Truth No 521. Halifax Sailing Club - situated on 90 acres of water above Calderdale, the Club provide dinghy racing, social sailing, windsurfing, training courses, canoeing and kayaking. The grant will be used to purchase safety and associated equipment, including buoyancy aids, waterproofs, helmets and training literature. (£1,000) sponsored by Concord Lodge No 4126. Reach Performing Arts Academy - aiming to develop articulation and communication, whilst encouraging creativity and imagination in the young people of Huddersfield, the grant will fund the cost of uniforms / branded clothing for young members (£990); sponsored by Lodge of Connaught and Truth No 521. Autism Angels - based just outside Harrogate, in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside, the charity works with parents and professionals to improve the lives of children. The grant will be used to provide a covered area with two secure containers for safe keeping of valuable equine equipment. (£1,600); sponsored by Harrogate & Claro Lodge No 1001. Little Crèche - a small self-funding community crèche, the grant will purchase a uniform range of polo shirts, hoodies and coats for staff and volunteers. (£350); sponsored by Faith, Hope & Charity Lodge No 4102. The Partially Sighted Society - based in Doncaster, the Society will use the grant to purchase lanyards which state, ‘Visually impaired – I cannot see to socially distance’ and ‘I am medically exempt from wearing a mask’; a necessity for people with visual impairment during the pandemic. (£1,920); sponsored by St Nicholas Lodge No 2259. Wentworth & Thorpe Hesley Youth Theatre - a South Yorkshire ‘producing’ company, creating original musicals and plays for performance in community venues. The grant will be used to buy a wireless talk-back system and wireless systems for performers. (£1,068); sponsored by Britannia Lodge No 139. In addition to these grants, possible only by the generosity of Freemasons and their families, in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding, further grants of £1,000 have been made from the Covid-19 Fund of the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) to The Exodus Project, Barnsley and the Doncaster-based charity, Respect My Stuff. Leeds-based charity For Mobility Disability have received £1,000 from MCF Matched Funding. Five Yorkshire charities have shared a £90,000 “major grants” windfall from the region’s Freemasons.
The financial donations - which ranged in value from £9,000 to £30,500 - were presented at the Freemasons’ Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s annual meeting held at Harrogate’s Royal Hall. Representatives from the five organisations were presented with their cheques by the fraternity’s Provincial Grand Master, David S Pratt, at the event attended by Freemasons from Yorkshire’s four counties and beyond. Those who received grants were:
Provincial Grand Master David S Pratt, said: “It was my absolute honour to be able to present these five different, yet equally deserving, organisations with their grants, at our Provincial Grand Lodge annual meeting in Harrogate. “This money was all raised thanks to Freemasons from throughout our Province, and I am extremely grateful to them for their generosity and continued support of charity. “This year alone we will give £200,000 to a wide range of charities, clubs, societies, hospitals and hospices. “Charity has, as always has been, at the heart of Freemasonry, and it will continue to be so for as long as our ancient and honourable institution exists. |
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