English Masonry has responded swiftly to the crisis in Myanmar (Burma) with an emergency grant of £20,000 for the assistance of victims of Cyclone Nargis. The Grand Charity is taking special measures to ensure that, as in the case of the tsunami relief effort, as much of the money reaches the people it is intended for as possible. Further information is available at www.grandcharity.org.

At the meeting of Shropshire Provincial Grand Lodge at Harper Adams' University College, the guest of honour (among very many distinguished visitors) was VWBro Hugh Stubbs, President of the Masonic Samaritan Fund. He was welcomed by the Provincial Grand Master, RWBro James McAllister Hodgson, and by the Chairman of the 2008 Appeal, Deputy Provincial Grand Master VWBro Peter Allan Taylor (all pictured right). In his annual speech to the Province, RWBro James Hodgson welcomed many guests to Shropshire for the first time as well as many old friends. He referred to the forthcoming Festival celebrations on Saturday 25th October, 2008 at Shrewsbury School, and gave particular thanks to Treasurer WBro Michael Heywood for his hard work. He also congratulated the Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro Roger Wedlake, whose hard work for the Province is to be marked with Grand Lodge honours at the end of April.

The past year has seen many significant Masonic occasions: the Provincial Carol Service was revived successfully at St Mary's Church, Albrighton through the help of the Albric Festival Lodge. Two significant anniversaries were celebrated; the centenary of Pengwerne Lodge at Crewe Street, Shrewsbury, and the 75th anniversary of Old Ellesmerian Lodge attended by around 175 Masons in the Big School of Ellesmere College. At the Shrewsbury Flower Show the policy of Openness was reflected in a stand which featured local Masonry, and especially the 200th anniversary of Thomas Telford, who was a member of Salopian Lodge no. 262. As a direct result of this stand, Salopian Lodge of Charity no. 117 will shortly be holding a double Initiation.

The Province has been working hard towards the 2008 Festival for the Masonic Samaritan Fund, but has also been able to give over £30,000 to a total of around 70 local charities. RWBro Hodgson also referred to the pleasing fact that, although demographics are against us with the loss of many members to the Grand Lodge above, the number of new Initiates in the last year was the highest for some time, and the average age of these new members has fallen from 48 to 45 - a welcome trend for the future of Masonry.

A select group of Salopian Masons has made a great charity contribution - just by going to Lodge! Kim Marsh, David Griffiths and Garry Breakwell of Salopian Lodge of Charity, together with Roger Michell of Sabrina Lodge, set off from Church Stretton at 6.30 a.m. on Thursday 10th April and walked across the Shropshire Hills to attend Powis Lodge in Welshpool. The intrepid walkers and their support team enjoyed an excellent evening at which the North Wales Lodge made a presentation to the charity total which will be added to over £1000 raised through sponsorship. 

Grand Charity Information Release        7 July 2008

Latest support for Non-Masonic charities announced

Projects supporting vulnerable people, youth opportunities and research into the cause and treatment of illness and disease are the latest beneficiaries of grants to non-Masonic charities from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.  In total, £368,000 will be shared between ten national charities bringing many positive benefits to the wider community.  

The largest single grant announced will support the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s introductory volunteer crew training for young people.  This will make a vital contribution to developing the skills of the 40% of recruits who are under 25.  Continuing the theme of support for opportunities for this age group, Rainer will receive £25,000 to help fund a tutor to provide vocational skills training at a centre for disadvantaged young people. 

All of the grants are part of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity’s programme of support for non-Masonic charities that reflect issues of interest, concern and relevance to Masons and their families. 

For further information contact Natasha Treweek on 020 7395 9394 or visit www.grandcharity.org

Summary of Grants approved :  

Medical Research

§        Autism Speaks - £40,000 over two years

§        Epilepsy Research UK - £25,000

Youth Opportunities

§        Royal National Lifeboat Institution - £72,000 over three years

§        Rainer - £25,000

Vulnerable People

§        Home Farm Trust - £60,000 over two years

§        British Red Cross - £50,000

§        Huntington’s Disease Association - £45,000 over three years

§        Riding for the Disabled - £25,000

§        Changing Faces – £20,000

§        Royal National Lifeboat Institution ( Jersey ) - £6,000

Purpose of Grants :

MEDICAL RESEARCH

AUTISM SPEAKS (£40,000 over two years)

A grant to fund research into autism.  Autism affects 500,000 people in the UK , but there is very little medical research into the causes.  Autism Speaks aims to attract young scientists to the field and is establishing a number of new, mentored, autism research fellowships. 

EPILEPSY RESEARCH UK (£25,000)

A grant to fund research at St George’s , Tooting, into a type of severe infant epilepsy.  The research project will analyse whether abnormal molecules called gangliosides are present in the 6,000 children who develop epilepsy at an early age.  45,000 people in the UK have epilepsy and in 60% of cases the cause is unknown.

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION (RNLI)  (£72,000 over three years)

A grant to fund a weeklong residential Introductory Crew Training Course in Poole for young people.  Last year about 40% of recruits were aged 25 or under and 90% of the RNLI’s 4,500 volunteer crew come from non-maritime backgrounds.

RAINER (£25,000)

A grant to fund a part-time tutor at a vocational skills centre in Kent .  Rainer supports 18,000 disadvantaged young people every year and the centre in Kent is set up as a fully equipped garage to provide training in motor mechanics.

VULNERABLE PEOPLE

HOME FARM TRUST (£60,000 over two years)

A grant to fund the Family Carers’ Support Service (FCSS).  FCSS provides advice and information to family carers who have relatives with learning disabilities.  About 4,000 family carers benefit each year from contact with the service, which is wholly funded by charitable donations.

BRITISH RED CROSS (£50,000)

A grant to fund a new Responder emergency response vehicle for use in the UK after events such as floods, fires, major traffic incidents or terrorist attacks.  The BRC provides crisis response to support the UK emergency services and vehicles are also used in community services to provide first aid cover.

HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE ASSOCIATION (£45,000 over three years)

A grant to fund the regional care advisory service in the north west of England .  HDA is an organisation run by people affected by Huntington’s Disease.  This North West Advisory Service is part of a countrywide network of advisers and provides support to over 500 adults and children with Huntington’s, high numbers at risk of the disease and 600 health professionals.

RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION (£25,000)

A grant to fund a volunteer development manager to help attract, train and support more volunteers.  Riding for the Disabled has 416 member groups in England and Wales serving 19,000 people with the help of 12,000 volunteers.  The new role follows a successful pilot project, which increased volunteering by an average of 10% in participating groups.

CHANGING FACES (£20,000)

A grant to fund the salary of an adult specialist adviser, providing workshops and one-to-one counselling for individuals.  Advisers are trained counsellors or psychologists and about 350 new people contact the service each year.

ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION (RNLI) (£6,000)

As a further contribution towards a new lifeboat in Jersey .  A grant of £4,000 was approved in March 2008, and so this brings the total contribution to £10,000.