Provincial
Grand Lodge for Shropshire
Masonic Charity Work
The three Great Principles by which Freemasons stand are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. Freemasons are taught to practise charity and to care, not only for their own, but also for the community as a whole – both by charitable giving, and by voluntary efforts and works as individuals.
From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been concerned with the care of orphans, the sick and the aged. This work continues today. In addition, large sums are given to national and local charities.
Non-Masonic Charities
Non-Masonic grants fall within five main areas:
- Medical research
- Care for vulnerable people of all ages
- Opportunities for young people
- Support for hospices
- Disaster relief
£15,000 for Philippines Typhoon Disaster
On
the 17th December, a typhoon pounded the southern Philippines, bringing
heavy rains and strong winds, which resulted in massive flooding and
landslides. Over
1,000 people were killed and over 10,000 homes destroyed.
On December 23rd 2011, the President of the Grand Charity approved an immediate emergency grant of £15,000 to the Red Cross, to provide disaster relief across the region. Read the full article here.
Breakthrough in treating Multiple Sclerosis
On 14 November 2011, it was announced that
trials into a new drug, alemtuzumab, have been
successful - a significant development for those
suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS).
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity gave £100,000
towards this research in 2010, at the University
of Cambridge. The grant specifically helped fund
research into the side effects of a drug called
“alemtuzumab”, for the treatment of multiple
sclerosis. Click
here for the full article.
£50,000 to Assist Japan Earthquake Relief Efforts
On 11th March, a massive earthquake struck Japan, triggering a tsunami that swept across the east coast, leaving a trail of destruction. Thousands of people have already died and thousands more are missing or injured. The President of the Grand Charity has approved an emergency grant of £50,000 to the British Red Cross, to assist with its Japan Tsunami Appeal.
(Picture courtesy of the Red Cross). Click
here for full details on how to make donations.
£30,000 New Zealand Earthquake Relief Efforts
In response to a severe earthquake, which took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, The President of the Grand Charity has approved an emergency grant of £30,000 to the British Red Cross to assist with their recovery appeal. Read the full article from Grand Charity.
£20,000 Brazil Flooding Emergency Grant
The
President of the Grand Charity has made an emergency grant of £20,000
following flooding earlier this month in
Severn Hospice & Hope House Children's Hospice
On
Thursday 7th January 2010 James Hodgson, the Provincial Grand Master for
Shropshire Freemasons, together with his Deputy Peter Taylor presented
cheques totalling £7,251 to the Severn Hospice at Shrewsbury and Telford
and to Hope House Children's Hospice in Oswestry. Left to right, Ian
Macbeth, Peter Taylor, James Hodgson, Norma Ross (fund raising Director,
Severn Hospice), Paul Cronin (CEO, Severn Hospice) and David Bradley.
Left
to right, James Hodgson, Vanessa Thomas of Hope House, Oswestry & Peter
Taylor.
Haiti - One Year On....
On the 12 January 2010, an earthquake struck Haiti
which would devastate the capital Port-Au-Prince,
causing much of the island and its infrastructure
to crumble. The earthquake was a debilitating
blow to a country already very much in the grip of
poverty; before the earthquake as much as 70%
of the population lived on less than $2 a day. It is
estimated that approximately 230,000 people died in
the earthquake, which caused 1.3 million people to
flee their homes. All institutions that would normally
be involved in disaster response including hospitals,
government buildings, schools etc incurred significant
damage.
Click on this link to read the full article on progress made over
the past year.
Chile Earthquake Emergency Grant £20,000
The President of The Freemasons'
Grand Charity, Grahame Elliott, has approved an emergency grant of
£20,000 to the Red Cross following a large
earthquake
in
The earthquake hit 90
kilometres north-east of the city of
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has awarded the British Red Cross £20,000 to assist with their relief efforts. The Chilean Red Cross is working on the ground in partnership with the country’s National Emergency Office (ONEMI), carrying out search and rescue operations, giving medical assistance where necessary as well as providing basic amenities like water, sanitation and shelter.
Haiti Earthquake Emergency Grant £30,000
Following the devastating earthquake
which took place in
The British Red Cross has been awarded £20,000 to
assist with their relief efforts. Red Cross volunteers in
Plan has also been granted £10,000 in support of their efforts in dealing with the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Plan’s priorities are assisting children and their families and getting people into safe accommodation wherever possible, as well as working with survivors to help ease their psychological trauma.
Cumbrian Flood Relief Grant £10,000
In response to the extreme flooding
which has taken place in Cumbria, the President of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has
approved an emergency grant of £10,000 to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmorland who are
directing the funds to the Cumbria Community Foundation.
Masonic Charities
Masonic charity is exercised at every level: individual Lodges make gifts and give aid to their own communities and every Province also gives large sums of money to regional causes. Nationally, our efforts are channelled through four main charity organisations.
The Freemasons' Grand Charity
The Freemasons' Grand Charity is a grant-making charity, working on behalf of Freemasons under the English Constitution. It was registered in 1981 and continues a commitment to charitable support that began nearly 300 years ago in the earliest days of organised Freemasonry. The Charity supports:
- Freemasons and their dependants who are experiencing hardship (Masonic Relief Grants)
- Non-Masonic charities (national charities serving England and Wales and for emergency relief work worldwide)
- Other Masonic charities
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys
The Trust was started over 220 years ago as a provider of boarding education. Over the past two centuries the support the Trust has provided to families in need has changed constantly, evolving to meet the challenges society has posed to different generations of children. Its principal objective, the relief of poverty has remained constant. The Trust recognizes the impact that poverty experienced in childhood can bring in creating life-long disadvantage. Help is provided with the cost of school trips, school uniforms or perhaps a small summer holiday grant for those families with the lowest incomes.
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution
The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, founded in 1842 as the 'Asylum for Worthy Aged and Decayed Freemasons', seeks to offer high quality care, support and assistance to older Freemasons and their dependants. It is committed to ensuring that the individuals' right to dignity, respect, choice and control over their own lives is upheld and maintained.
The RMBI currently operates 17
residential homes across England and Wales offering a range of
high-quality care options, including residential and nursing care,
dementia support and respite care. It also provides support for
those in difficulty but who wish to remain in their own homes.
The RMBI Home closest to the Shropshire Province is Queen Elizabeth Court, in Llandudno.
Presentation given by Debra Keeling on dementia in the UK to Shropshire Province Almoners in November 2011 at Crewe Street.
The Masonic Samaritan Fund
The Masonic Samaritan Fund is a
grant-making charity working on behalf of Freemasons in England, Wales
and overseas Districts. It was established in 1990 to take over
the role of the Samaritan Fund at the Royal Masonic Hospital.
Since the Hospital was closed and sold in 1996 it has been the only
central Masonic charity that funds the provision of medical care and
support.