Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds has received a donation of £5,743 from the Freemasons Grand Charity. The Hospice was delighted to have been chosen by the members as one of the charities in the area to benefit from their annual giving. Michael Hemsley, Charity Assistant for the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding presented the cheque to St Gemma’s ward manager, Judy Hustwit on Friday 13^th January.

Judy said: “We are very grateful to the Freemasons for their continued support of St Gemma’s Hospice. This donation will be used to benefit the patients in our care. Last year we cared for over 2,500 local people so our Hospice touches the lives of so many local people. We are very privileged to have the support of the Freemasons, locally and nationally and thank them for their generosity.”

Michael Hemsley said: “We are delighted to have visited the Hospice to present this donation and see at first hand the vital work that goes on there. We are proud that our donation will be used to benefit people at a difficult time in their lives.”

St Gemma’s Hospice, based in Moortown, Leeds, provides specialist medical and nursing care for local people with life threatening illnesses, predominantly cancer, and support for their families too.  Care provided is free of charge to patients and their families so St Gemma’s relies on donations and local fundraising initiatives in the community.

Posted in Charity News on January 19th, 2012

We are delighted to inform you that The Freemasons’ Grand Charity was mentioned on The Telegraph newspaper website on 28th December 2011.

The article “Stem cell treatment to prevent hearing loss” details the progress of a project the Charity has supported through Deafness Research UK since 2006, aiming to prevent age-related hearing loss.

Please read the article here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8951436/Stem-cell-treatment-to-prevent-hearing-loss.html

Further details of this project can be found by visiting our website:
http://www.grandcharity.org/data/files/NEWSITE/GRANTSTOCHARITIES/MedicalResearch/Deafness_Research_UK.pdf

Posted in Charity News on January 5th, 2012

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 on The Grand Charity website

Posted in Charity News on January 4th, 2012

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has donated £50,000 to The Place2Be to fund a programme for primary and secondary school children in Leeds, which will benefit 3,300 young people. The charity provides counselling and support within schools for vulnerable children in areas of deprivation.

The programme helps young people who are suffering abuse, family breakdown, violence, substance abuse and bereavement. It also supports teachers and parents in dealing with emotional and mental health issues. The aim of the programme is to enable children to share their troubles and emotions; increase their self esteem and coping skills; help them communicate more effectively; help them build relationships with others and finally, it is there for young people during a time of need.

Speaking about the donation John Clayton, the Provincial Grand Master for Yorkshire, West Riding, said: “Providing opportunities to improve the lives of disadvantaged young people is at the heart of our youth opportunities funding programme. The Place2Be works to help young people fulfil their potential in the best way possible, which Freemasons fully support.”

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be benefiting from the Freemasons’ wonderful support and for this opportunity to continue our partnership.  This donation will ensure we can continue making a lifetime of difference to over 3,300 vulnerable and at-risk children in Leeds through our range of school-based services, ensuring they are able to learn more effectively and grow up with prospects not problems,”

Benita Refson OBE, Chief Executive, The Place2Be.

The Major Grants Scheme is just one of the initiatives driven by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity which donates over £3 million to national charities every year.

Posted in Charity News on December 21st, 2011

Four days before Christmas the Grand Charity is very happy to announce that over £1 million has been donated during November – December 2011, for non-Masonic grants. This includes £600,000 for hospice services as well as major grants in the areas of support for vulnerable people, youth opportunities and medical research.

Read the full article on The Grand Charity website

Posted in Charity News on December 21st, 2011

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.

Read Full Article on The Freemasons’ Grand Charity website

Posted in Charity News on November 24th, 2011

Local hospices have welcomed the funding from The Freemason’s Grand Charity – a total of £45,379 is being donated to 14 hospices in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding. Adult and children’s hospices across England and Wales are receiving £600,000 in total from the Charity. This sum is in addition to funds already donated by local Freemasons.

Freemasons have a long tradition of funding hospices, with The Freemasons’ Grand Charity donating £9.3 million since 1984. All donations are raised by Freemasons and their families and aim to assist hospices in their vital role in helping those affected by terminal or life limiting illness.

Speaking about the donation the Provincial Grand Master, John Clayton said: “Supporting hospice services remains very important to Freemasons in this Province and we are delighted that The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has continued to provide this funding again. The care provided by local hospices is exceptional – but continuous financial support is necessary to ensure such a dedicated service. For that reason we are delighted to be able to demonstrate our continued commitment to their cause”

Posted in Charity News on November 22nd, 2011

In conjunction with the 2013 Bi-Centenary Appeal by the Royal Arch for the Royal College of Surgeons, three of the RCS Research Fellows came to Wakefield to talk about their work.   They were:

Mr Shahid Farid, from Clinical and Biomedical Proteomics Research, St James’s University Hospital, Leeds.    He spoke about his research into cancer of the bile ducts of the liver. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a devastating cancer of the bile ducts of the liver, causing over 1000 deaths a year in the UK.  Death is higher for CCA than other cancers as most patients present too late for surgery (the only cure), and the cancer is resistant to radio and chemotherapy. Identification of new biomarkers, might allow the use a blood tests to detect CCA earlier and improve survival.

Miss Deborah Sylvester, from the Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Hull advised those present that 7,000 people were newly-diagnosed with oral or laryngeal cancer accounting for 3% of all cancers in the UK, and that despite improved surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, five year survival rates remain unchanged.  A technique has been developed to allow small pieces of tumour tissue to ‘survive’ outside the body. Its novel application to head and neck cancer can potentially give information about how chemotherapy agents will act on individual tumours, allowing clinicians to select the most appropriate treatment. This approach has potential to help head and neck cancer patients and is equally applicable to sufferers with other forms of malignancy.

Mr Jagtar Dhanda, from the School of Cancer Studies, Division of Surgery and Oncology, University of Liverpool said that head and neck cancer, of which oral cancer is the most common, has increased steadily with 500,000 new cases diagnosed worldwide per year. Despite aggressive treatment approaches survival has not changed appreciably, remaining at 40-55% overall for the last 40 years. Symptoms and effects of treatment can also be debilitating. The project aims to provide ‘personalised medicine’, a major goal of current research, by predicting disease outcomes and tailoring treatment for individuals rather than groups. The idea is to develop genetic signatures identifying subgroups of patients with oral cancer that will ultimately develop widespread disease. With this information it will be possible to modify the treatments accordingly and also feed back into basic research the key causes of aggressive cancers.

John Clayton, the Grand Superintendent said, “you cannot but be impressed to hear of the valuable work that is being undertaken to advance surgical care for current and future generations of patients. It is therefore vitally important that we support the 2013 Bi-Centenary Appeal for the Royal College”.   He went on to say “I am pleased to advise you that the Province, through West Riding Masonic Charities, yesterday sent a cheque for £20,000 to the Bi-Centenary Appeal, this is not instead of what you are going to give, but in addition”.

If you require further information about the Research work undertaken by the Royal College of Surgeons follow this link to their website www.rcseng.ac.uk/fundraising.

Posted in Charity News, Holy Royal Arch Chapter on November 9th, 2011

A happy chord was struck at the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield when children’s technology charity Lifelites installed a new state-of-the-art package of fun and educational technology.

They were able to do this thanks to the generosity of our Province, with ProvGM John K Clayton handing over a £20,000 cheque from West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd.

Lifelites, the only charity in the UK to install and maintain technology for terminally ill children in hospices, had their innovative work recognised recently when they were declared overall winners at this year’s Technology4Good Awards. They have provided computer packages at all the country’s 44 children’s hospices.

Terminally ill children will be able to experience a fantastic Sound Beam, enabling them to create their own music and Simone Enefer-Doy, chief executive of the London-based charity, said: “We can’t thank the West Riding Freemasons enough.  We hoped to be able to give the new hospice something special but thanks to their wonderful donation we’ve really gone to town.  For the first time ever, we’re able to add the amazing Sound Beam too.

“By using movement to break a beam and produce a sound, the Sound Beam can enable children with even the most profound physical and learning disabilities to make music using whatever movement they can.

RW Bro. Clayton, in presenting the £20,000 donation, said:  “We feel very privileged to have been able to support Lifelites in providing this absolutely wonderful computer entertainments system at the new children’s hospice.

“We do this on behalf of all our members in Yorkshire, West Riding but, particularly those who belong to Lodges in Huddersfield, Halifax and Wakefield, the principal areas which I understand this marvellous new facility will serve.

The ProvGM added: “This particular donation typifies the work we have done in support of hospices, both in our own region and nationally, over very many years and we know the importance of creating an environment where sick children will be able to enjoy the time they spend in a hospice such as in the superb surroundings we have witnessed today.

“It has been a very moving experience and how great it was to meet totally committed carers,” he said.

Hospice chief executive Peter Branson said: “We are immensely grateful for the generous support of the West Riding Freemasons which has provided such superb equipment for the children and young people we support.

“The difference this equipment will make is immeasurable. It will help bring independence, fun and laughter to so many children; it will give them new and exciting experiences and fresh ways of communicating; and it will allow families to capture memories of their children which they will treasure forever. On behalf of children and families I extend my warmest thanks to everyone involved in making this happen”

About Lifelites, Charity No.1115655

Today technology is part of the way with live, work and play; for children even more so.

Lifelites, founded by the Royal Masonic Trust for Boys and Girls in the Millennium Year, is the only charity in the country supplying a fully maintained package of home education and recreation technology for the estimated 7,000 children and their families who use any one the 44 children’s hospices around the UK on an on-going basis.

Our package includes computers with controlled internet, special equipment for children with disabilities to use the computers for themselves and cameras.

With our help, the children can surf the web and keep in contact with their schools, families and friends or simply relax in front of their favourite programmes with their parents. Our cameras also help the families make a lasting record of the special time they spend together with their child at the hospice.

It costs us around £32,000 every four years at each hospice for our equipment and on-going services.

Now a separate charity, Lifelites continues to benefit from RMTGB support through the donation of offices, administration and accountancy services but relies heavily on donations from  various groups, many of whom are Masonic.

Posted in Charity News on November 9th, 2011

Masonic charitable activity has been operative in the Province of Yorkshire West Riding for over 150 years.

Its present governing body is West Riding Masonic Charities Limited. The elected board of Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the needs of distressed Freemasons and their dependents are met, to provide services to improve “the quality of life” of its more vulnerable members and more recently to provide grants for community projects and organisations.

As a guide, recent years have seen approximately £500,000 being distributed per annum to many diverse and worthy causes. This can only be achieved by the continued support of Freemasons within the Province of Yorkshire West Riding.

For which the Trustees wish to record their thanks and appreciation.

Use the link below to view the full West Riding Masonic Charities Booklet

View West Riding Masonic Charities Limited booklet online

Posted in Charity News on October 26th, 2011