Somerset Freemasons regard support for local charities as a
priority and lodges look to support needy causes in their local community.
Support for Children’s Hospice, South West at Wraxall
Somerset freemasons have adopted the Hospice at Wraxall as a major project and
have raised funds to equip 6 visitors rooms. In addition, the Masonic Lifelites
project has provided £40,000 of extensive IT and computer equipment and
links for the children and families use. A volunteer group of Somerset
freemasons provides regular practical support and advice to the staff and
residents to help them make best use of the Lifelites IT systems and also
maintains and improves the software.
BIBIC
National charity BIBIC based near Bridgwater received £30,000 this
year. The donation will help to pay for new IT equipment for the staff working
at BIBIC. The grant is from the Freemasons' Grand Charity who have supported
BIBIC since 1988. BIBIC aspires to a society where all children with
disabilities live life to their full potential. They provide positive,
practical support to parents and carers, and train professionals in the health
and education sectors. BIBIC work with children with a wide range of conditions
such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, developmental delay, traumatic
and acquired brain injury and specific learning difficulties such as ADHD,
dyslexia and dyspraxia.
Wells Cathedral
To mark the 275th anniversary of Freemasonry in Somerset the Provincial Grand
Master made a presentation to Wells Cathedral of £50,000 towards the
restoration of the Pilgrims Porch. A further contribution of £10,000 has
been promised. The gift comprises donations from individual lodges as well as
from the Province. Pictured are Canon Russell Bowman-Eadie and Canon Patrick
Woodhouse with David Jenkins, PGM.
Teddies for Loving Care
Somerset is part of the national scheme to provide children attending Accident
& Emergency units at Hospital with a free teddy bear. So far the scheme is
in operation at Weston super Mare, Minehead, Yeovil Taunton, Bridgwater,
Burnham on Sea and Clevedon Hospitals and also Teddies are donated to the
Children's' Hospices at Littlebridge Farm in Devon and Charlton Farm in North
Somerset. 10,000 Teddies have so far been donated in Somerset. Nationally the
figure is over 500,000. The bears are funded by local lodges.
TLC Appeal has launched its own website which can be found at
www.tlcappeal.org
Lodge donations
Private Lodges provide financial support to many local good causes. These
aggregate to around £100,000 in a typical year. Many are reported in
Compass Magazine. The current and past editions of Compass can be accessed from
this website.
