Read on to find out about some of the grassroots charities and community groups Worcestershire Freemasons Charity has recently helped. 

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CHARITY EVENING

Tuesday 25 November saw representatives from a number of charities helped by WFC and the Lottery meet at Worcester Masonic Hall. They were greeted by the PGM who explained the important role that ‘Service’ plays in Freemasonry. In particular, how by volunteering time and skills and making charitable grants, we as Freemasons contribute to the well-being of the local communities in which we live. There then followed short presentations by the representatives, explaining what their charities do, and how the grants received from WFC and the Lottery helped them to achieve their goals. The evening concluded with a light buffet which offered everyone the opportunity to network and learn more about each charity.

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Interesting take-aways:

Tenbury Transport Trust  - the cars and 3 minibuses used to transport people free of charge  travel in excess of 45000 miles each year.

Acorns Children’s Hospice – it costs nearly £11 million per year to run the three hospices and the greatest part is funded from non-governmental sources such as the grant from the Lottery.

Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer – despite the name it also supports breast cancer in men who form 0.6% of cases each year.

Worcestershire Prostrate Cancer Support Group – 1 in 8 men (1 in 4 Black men) will get prostrate cancer. The grant from WFC enabled the charity to perform 1000 PSA tests in the county.

Air Ambulance – the local service has three helicopters and, on average, each helicopter has 12 call-outs per day.

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FOLLOW UP OF GRANTS GIVEN

David Dey visited the opening of the Pershore Men’s Shed which was a beneficiary of WFC grant funding. The occasion was attended by a number of local organisations which had supported the project. During the opening address Worcestershire Freemasons were mentioned as a supporter.

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Photo: Roger Cheney Avon Lodge; David Dey WFC trustee; Brian Burdon, Secretary, Pershore Men's Shed

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CONTINUING GRANT SUPPORT

Read on to find out about some of the grassroots charities and community groups which  WFC has recently supported with grants.

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Health

Headway Worcestershire (£500)

It is a local independent charity dedicated to supporting adults who have acquired brain injuries. It runs Wellbeing Centres in Worcester, Evesham, Bromsgrove and Stourport as well as outreach services in the homes of people affected by a brain injury. The aim is to help those with Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI) to make friends, learn new skills, gain confidence and live happier and more independent lives.

The Myriad Centre  (£500 )

It provides specialist, personalised day respite services for adults over 18 with profound learning disabilities. Through creative arts, music therapy, physical exercise, and social activities, it creates opportunities for clients to connect with others, explore new interests, and enhance their overall quality of life.

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Community

Redditch Youth and Community Enterprise ( £1000)

It provides safe, positive and engaging activities for young people aged 8 – 19. Through weekly sessions, workshops and holiday activities it offers opportunities in sports, arts, life skills and personal development – reaching over 50 persons per week. The programmes aim to reduce isolation, antisocial behaviour and poor mental health.

Rainbow Hill Community Hub  (£500)

Located close to the Worcester Masonic Hall this group provides facilities for young people in the area. The grant is specifically to fund a Santa Grotto which will be free to enter and each child will get a gift from Santa.

Amazing Opportunities ( £500)

This is a charity based in Upton on Severn which looks to help homeless people – not by providing short term assistance but by operating a workshop which restores and sells items, from the premises and online, and employing the homeless to do so. The charity was set up several years ago by two people who themselves had been homeless.

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Education and Culture

Merryhill Open Award  ( £350 )

This is a voluntary group which helps children in the Dudley area to enter and complete the various stages of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Girl Guiding Home to Rome trip  (£ 500)

This is sponsorship of a child of a Worcestershire mason to participate in a challenge organised by GirlGuiding Worcestershire, whereby teams compete to achieve specified objectives on route from Worcestershire to Rome.

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Armed Forces Covenant

Hereford and Worcester Army Cadet Force Charitable Trust (£2550)

 

In conjunction with the Masonic Province of Hereford Charity WFC has donated £2550 (£5100 in total) to acquire first aid training equipment, including manikins, for army cadets across Hereford and Worcester. Several hundred cadets will be trained each year at various locations throughout the Provinces with the equipment expected to last for a number of years.

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