Community Grants update - March

This latest newsletter gives details of grants awarded during March, 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 how their contributions are being used and the work that WRMCL is doing, on their behalf, to support those within our communities. 
 
Since the previous update, the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund has made grants, totalling over £14,000, to six community organisations, where it is hoped there will be the biggest impact in terms of community benefit:
 
Westend Junior Football Club
 
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Huddersfield based football club formed a volunteer action group of young people, ‘Westend Community Champions’ and began fundraising to support local vulnerable families. During the past year, they have provided thousands of food items to a local foodbank, Jubilee Centre, Paddock; over 2,500 clothing donations to Sanctuary Kirklees and at Christmas, delivered presents to over 1,000 vulnerable families across the town. 

In January they began supporting vulnerable children; providing basic, essential learning items. Additionally, they are putting together ‘Pamper Packages’ for NHS and frontline care workers in the community. The young volunteers, with their selflessness, compassion, acts of kindness and dedication are helping make a positive difference to the lives of others.
 
The grant of £2,000 will assist in the provision of further packages; sponsored by Kirklees Lodge No 4710, Mirfield.

​Food4Heroes
 
Food4Heroes, a not-for-profit organisation, was formed at the start of the pandemic, initially bringing together furloughed staff from caterers, pubs and restaurants to cook nutritious meals for NHS staff.
 
Having delivered 240,000 meals to NHS staff at 43 hospitals in England, they were keen to do their bit to further alleviate the pressure on the NHS and started working with foodbanks. Still working with pubs, restaurants and caterers, meals are now distributed directly to foodbanks to supplement the non-perishable goods in food packages; giving service users the opportunity to enjoy a healthy meal that they just need to heat up at home.

​Local foodbanks receiving support, include The Welcome Centre, Huddersfield; Crossroads, Meltham and Noah’s Ark, Halifax and a small team of volunteers help with distribution of the meals.
 
The grant of £2,000 will provide 1,000 meals; sponsored by Brooke Lodge No 3608, Kirkburton.
 
Salterlee Under Fives
 
Based in Salterlee Primary School at the heart of the Shibden Valley, this committee led pre-school and playgroup aims to provide a secure and caring environment which encourages learning and development through play.
 
Play is one of the main ways in which children learn and develop. It helps to build self-worth by giving a child a sense of his or her own abilities and to feel good about themselves. Because it's fun, children often become very absorbed in what they are doing.  
 
One to one support and individual learning and development plans are available for children with special educational needs, together with speech and language development support.
 
The grant, of £1,095 will be used to purchase play resources to enhance the children’s play experience, promoting engagement and focus; sponsored by Beacon Lodge No 4066, Halifax.
 
St Saviours Community Project
 
St Saviours Community Project, provides material support for residents of High Green, Sheffield, facing deprivation; a major part of which is the provision of enough food to feed a family for about three days, from their foodbank. 

​All work is carried out by volunteers and to cope with the ever-increasing workload, they are also providing their services to the community from local schools
 
The grant of £2,000 will enable the purchase of consumables and food to make up essential food parcels; sponsored by Lodge of Industry No 6579, Sheffield.
 
Penney Field Special School
 
Penny Field School, Leeds, caters for children and young people (aged 3-19) with Complex and Multiple Learning Needs. They have specialist staff who are well trained and experienced to support their medical and learning needs; this includes an inclusion nursing team on site full-time and a high level of speech and language and physiotherapist input. They have a hydrotherapy pool and a sunken trampoline for ‘Rebound Therapy’ and exercise, as well as a wheelchair accessible roundabout and swing, sensory garden and greenhouse.
 
The school wish to buy an Acheeva bed which will assist about 35 children with complex disabilities. The bed is a cross between a wheelchair, bed and therapy table. It allows pupils to be positioned more comfortably, enabling them to fully access different lessons. 

The school was awarded a grant of £5,000 to help towards the cost of purchase; sponsored by Loyalty Lodge No 4971.
 
New Rover Cricket Club
 
New Rover Cricket Club, Adel, Leeds, has two Senior sides playing in local leagues, together with a growing and developing junior section, with teams at U9, U11, U13 and U15.  The Club is home to the Yorkshire College who host games for the Yorkshire over 60s.
 
They have a diverse membership, with about 30% of members being BAME.  They also have a growing number of female players, particularly in the junior section. The membership is a great example of ethnic diversity within the community, offering not only a good sports facility but a focal point for all the community to come together as one.
 
The grant of £2,000 will contribute towards funding a new all-weather practice net facility, for the 100 juniors and 40+ adult players.  The current facilities are over 20 years old, very worn and beyond further repair.  Replacement will benefit the development of all players and facilitate better coaching year-round; sponsored by Philanthropic Lodge No 304.