This latest newsletter gives details of grants awarded during September 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 £10,000, to five community organisations, where it is hoped there will be the biggest impact in terms of community benefit: Tandem Trekkers - a registered charity and cycling group providing facilities within the Huddersfield area, for individuals with visual impairment to participate in tandem cycling. The grant of £2,500 will be used not only to invest in bikes and equipment, but to go some way towards the purchase of a mini-bus to transport the same; sponsored by St John’s Lodge No 827, Dewsbury. Friends of Parkinson's Park - the park sits on the hillside above Guiseley and volunteers
aim to ensure a well-maintained public ‘landscape’ park to enhance the quality of life for the residents of Aireborough. The grant of £1,300 will allow the purchase of a bench, for use by elderly and disabled residents; sponsored by Harewood Lodge No 5667, Otley. Ilkley & District Good Neighbours - support the elderly and vulnerable in Ilkley and the surrounding area, with one-to-one befriending, assisted shopping and a weekly social group. The coronavirus pandemic has placed greater demand upon the volunteers and the grant of £1,000 will provide funding to help their clients during the present ‘lockdown’; sponsored by Olicana Lodge No 1522. Sheffield Mencap & Gateway - the leading provider of training and support for adults with learning disabilities in Sheffield; providing support to over 600 adults and children. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, face-to-face sessions have ceased and many members are suffering mental health issues and leading a sedentary lifestyle. They have limited internet access and the grant of £2,250 will provide the most vulnerable members with tablets, on a loan basis, enabling the delivery of sports sessions; sponsored by the Chapter of Loyalty No 296. Swinnow Community Centre - is run by community volunteers and accommodates a large number of local community groups and initiatives, being the only community facility serving the whole of the Pudsey area. The increased demand for hot meals and other food services by the vulnerable in the community, due to the pandemic, has necessitated an upgrade of the kitchen facilities and the grant of £3,000 will assist in bringing the project to an early conclusion; sponsored by St Laurence Lodge No 2330. A further grant from the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund of £1,500 was enhanced by matched- funding from the Masonic Charitable Foundation, making a total of £3,000 towards the cost of a replacement boiler for Emmaus Sheffield, a charity providing support to homeless people. In addition, a grant has been made from the Masonic Meal Appeal Fund, in the amount of £2,000 to St Saviours Community Project, Sheffield. The Food Bank provides food parcels on a weekly basis to those in the local community and deliver to some 30 adults and children. The grant will help equip a local storage area with shelving, to both store food and from which, volunteers can make up the food parcels for distribution; it will also assist in increased costs caused by the pandemic; sponsored by the Lodge of Industry No 6579. Finally, 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.
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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. |
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