News Archive May 2009

Province of Warwickshire - posted 26.5.09

Province or Yorkshire (North and East Riding) - posted 19.5.09

A superb letter of thanks from a member of staff at Hull Royal Infirmary:

TLC TEDDIES MAKE A DIFFERENCE

I have been working as a Play Specialist in the Paediatric Emergency Department for the past 4 years. My main responsibility is to supervise and deliver play and distraction therapy for the children within the department. I settle the children into the hospital environment by reassuring and relaxing them. As I’ll explain in a moment, the donation of the TLC teddies has made this task much easier.

For many children their visit to the Emergency Department is their first experience in a hospital setting and it is therefore vital to make it a positive one. The children who we treat can be very frightened and are sometimes extremely distressed. They must be able to convey their fears and worries in order for me to help alleviate and overcome these feelings. Communicating effectively with a distressed child can be a problem however and it’s therefore important to use play therapy techniques to converse on their wavelength.

Making things fun for the child is a priority and the TLC teddies play a huge part in this. Medical procedures such as the application of steri-strips or pots for example, are often demonstrated on the teddy first to prepare the child for their forthcoming treatment. It reduces their anxiety and encourages co-operation.

The teddies are also used as a reward for their behaviour and bravery. They act as a positive symbol for the hospital and leave a lasting impression in the child’s mind. Possessing a TLC teddy is a reminder to them that visiting the hospital isn’t so bad.

It is hard for me to explain the effect these wonderful teddies have within our department because the only way we can measure their success is by the change in the child’s emotions. It is no exaggeration to say that a child’s mood and overall perception of their treatment can be completely changed for the better by using the teddies and speaking personally, it truly is a pleasure to watch.

It’s amazing. Something that seems so trivial to us “grown-ups” can have such an impact on a youngster and this wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for the generosity of the Freemasons. I’d like to finish by thanking you on my behalf, and on behalf of the children who these teddies make such a difference to.

Laura Burton
Hospital Play Specialist
Hull Royal Infirmary

Most Improved Banker Mason

Province or Yorkshire (North and East Riding) - posted 19.5.09

Joseph Hayton received this Provinces Prize  for the "Most Improved Banker Mason " at the recent Awards Evening at York College.
Joseph is making his daily advancement in Masonic knowledge  at the National Centre for Excellence in Stonemasonry at York College
The picture shows Joseph receiving his certificate from APGM David Marsh

 

 

Province or Yorkshire (West Riding)

News Release 15/05/09

 Yorkshire Freemasons Support Regional Good Causes To Tune Of £100,000


Yorkshire Freemasons have cemented their status as one of region’s most prolific supporters of charities after donations totalling £100,000 were handed to five organisations.

The individual grants - ranging from £10,000 to £30,000 – were donated from the Yorkshire West Riding’s Provisional Grand Master’s Fund, which received nominations from local Masonic lodges.

The £100,000 follows on the heels of £250,000 given to Breast Cancer Haven’s £2.2 million to open a new “haven” in Leeds city centre.

Those benefitting from the most recent round of funding are:

  • Bradford Cancer Support, which received £20,000 towards the cost of enhancing holistic care in its cancer support unit. They aim to make a difference t the lives of patients, their families and carers by providing a range of services which are readily accessible and free of charge to all individuals. It was nominated by Pentalpha Lodge, Bradford.
  • Calder Valley Club – Mytholmroyd, which received £30,000 towards the cost of a replacement minibus. The club, which provides facilities in the local community for education, recreation and other leisure time activities to allow the physically disabled to integrate with able bodied people. They were supported in their application by Rokeby Lodge, Halifax
  • Diamonds Gymnastics Club – Halifax, which received a grant of £20,000 towards the cost of new floor equipment in an extension to their facilities. The gym club, which was founded in 2003, currently has 1,000 members, ranging in ages from pre-school to adults. They were nominated for the funding by Huddersfield Lodge.
  • Donnisthorpe Hall – Leeds, has received £20,000 towards the cost of providing furnishings for the new 37-bed Dementia Unit. The residential care home is primarily a home for elderly members of the Jewish community, however, it also welcomes non-Jewish residents who wish to live in an orthodox Jewish environment. The application was supported by the Lodge of Dawn, together with Adel Lodge, Lodge of Elmet, Lodge of Fidelity and St Wilfrid Lodge, all Leeds.
  • Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team, has been awarded £10,000 towards the cost of refurbishing its headquarters at Hepshaw Farm, on the North East edge of the Peak District National Park. The team provide an essential service, not only to walkers, but the community. The majority of the team’s incidents have been in South or West Yorkshire and Derbyshire, but have been called out further a field. They were supported in their application by Constancy Lodge, Huddersfield.

Provincial Grand Master John Clayton said: “We are delighted to be able to give these five worthy organisations, all offering and providing very different facilities and support, a much-needed financial boost.

“Charity is at the heart of Freemasonry and every year scores of different clubs, societies and charities benefit from the generosity of individual lodges and members.”
 

For Further Information please contact:
David Pratt, on 07768 178 330
David Simister, 07870 550 760

 

Bedfordshire Freemasons’ Martin Foss Award

The Provincial Grand Master Michael Sawyer and the Provincial Grand Secretary Gordon Staple attended the University of Bedfordshire, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences Graduation Ceremony in St. Mary’s Church, Luton to present Belinda Takyi with the award. The annual award named after the late R W Bro Martin Foss, Past Provincial Grand Master of Bedfordshire and a former surgeon, is made to a final year student in Nursing and Midwifery who has made the greatest contribution to the life of the Faculty of Health and Social Science.
Belinda commenced her studies at The University as a pre-registration mental health student and went on to join the BSc Nursing Studies course gaining a First Class Honours degree in Nursing Studies. During her studies Belinda also found time to give birth to a baby daughter.

M Sawyer, Belinda Takyi, Gordon Staple    

Birmingham Mail - News - Top Stories - Cannon Hill Park fair for special needs children is saved

Cannon Hill Park fair for special needs children is saved

May 9 2009 by Rebekah Oruye, Birmingham Mail

A FUNDAY with adapted rides for children with special needs which faced the axe after council officials closed the normal venue has been saved.Up to 400 kids from Selly Oak Trust School faced being disappointed after their annual funday was cancelled. For the last five years the school, which caters for children with special needs, was provided with a free day at a funfair held in Cannon Hill Park, where rides are adapted to suit their needs.

The fair was banned this year due to on-going maintenance work at the park, but groups of Masons that organise the event insisted on finding a suitable alternative.Deputy head teacher Gaynor Morgan said the youngsters would have been “heartbroken” if they could not participate in the day-trip: “For children with special needs and in particular the most vulnerable, to go to a fairground where people understand them and they don’t have to queue means a lot both to them and staff.”

“The fair marks the start of the Summer for them and it’s every child’s dream to go on any and everything they want.”

Mrs Morgan praised the efforts of the Masons in seeking out another location for the funfair, saying: “They’ve really gone out of their way this year.”

The funfair was the brainchild of 12 Mason lodges who meet in Kings Heath. Committee member at the Frankley Beeches Lodge, Trevor Barnes, said: “Some years ago the Masons had been given bad press, we wanted to find something to do to benefit the whole community and in particular disabled children.” Birmingham fairground owner, Robert Wilkinson, who is also a Freemason had offered to put on an exclusive fair, just for kids with special needs in the city. Each year, the Masons set aside £500 from their charitable donations for the fairground and they send a team of volunteers to watch over the kids.

Trevor explained: “When Cannon Hill Park was off-limits, we were offered Sheldon Park instead but were forced to turn it down due to accessibility issues.

“With no path available, it meant anyone wheelchair-bound would not be able to go and that would have been a shame if some missed out on the big day.”

The fair will now be held in Small Heath Park on May 22, with kids from seven schools attending the event along with the newly-appointed Lord Mayor and Mayoress.

 

BOLTON NEWS ARTICLE (East Lancashire)

 

Giving Evening 2009
The Bolton News - £28,000 handed to 43 charities
2:30pm Monday 4th May 2009

FREEMASONS are continuing to raise their public profile after handing out more than £28,000 to 43 charities and good causes. The money was raised throughout the last year by the 22 Bolton and Farnworth lodges which make up the Freemasons of Bolton. Representatives from the recipients attended the organisation’s third annual “giving evening” held at the Masonic Hall in Silverwell Street, Bolton.


Among those to benefit from the generosity of the Freemasons were Bolton Hospice, which received in excess of £2,000, and Astley Bridge Junior Football Club which netted more than £1,000.


A cheque was also handed over to the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Anthony Connell, for his chosen charity.


All the worthy causes shared a total of £28,334.

This article is particularly relevant as we recently invited Bolton News to Masonic Hall in Bolton to develop relationship. This we did and clearly they are happy now to express interest in our efforts and support raising the profile of Freemasonry locally.

 

 

Blackburn and Darwen Press Cuttings (East Lancashire)

Following their Giving Event