The Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire

Service and Welfare

The Cheshire Freemasons Charity (CFC) was re-launched by the Provincial Grand Master at the Craft AGM in October 2018 and it has been very active ever since with fund raising activities and supporting both masonic and non-masonic causes.

We enjoy a very close working arrangement with the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), based in London, which supports the Province of Cheshire by making numerous grants in addition to those made by the CFC.

The Teddies for Loving Care Appeal continues to be very popular and the team makes sure that all of the Accident & Emergency Departments throughout the Province always have a stock of Teddies to comfort any children in their care who may be suffering great distress.

The PSA Prostate Cancer Screening project, which last year saw a significant increase in men, including many members of the public, being tested will undoubtedly save lives and will be continued each year in all of the Areas of the Province

Welfare arrangements in the Province are headed up by a dedicated team of Visiting Volunteers throughout the five Areas of the Province. The Provincial team interacts with the Area Almoners, assisting them with more local cases, and with the Masonic Charitable Foundation, as many of the grants paid in Cheshire now come that source.

The team also has regular contact with the RMBI homes in Llandudno, Eccles and Liverpool where a number of Cheshire members now reside and which are all supported by Cheshire Freemasons’ Charity.

New developments include a pilot exercise with Age UK on Later Life Goals and a working arrangement with Dementia UK to raise awareness of this ever-increasing condition.

Grant Celebrations

Cheshire Freemasons donate circa £1mil to charities and good causes in 2022

On Monday 5th December a number of Cheshire’s leading Charities and members of the Cheshire Freemasons came together to hear more about how funds provided had been put to good use to positively improve the lives of so many. The stories were incredible.

Head of the Cheshire Freemasons, David Dyson, welcomed a number of local dignitaries including the High Sheriff of Cheshire Jeannie  France-Hayhurst, The Lord Mayor and The Lady Mayoress of Chester, The Lord Mayor and The Lady Mayoress of Trafford plus charity representatives and voluntary workers from an array of organisations, some well-known like the Blood Bikes to MacMillan cancer research to those less well-known like Rueben’s Retreat and Foodshare – all equally fabulous charities.

During the evening, David confirmed his commitment on behalf of all Cheshire Freemasons, to continue to support Local and National good causes during these testing times and beyond and thanked the many charities in attendance for their time and commitment as they help so many people in Cheshire and further afield.  

A number of the charities had provided videos of thanks which explained more about what they do and the Freemasons who attended, took the opportunity to meet the charity representatives to find out more about how they are using their share of the £1Million donated by Cheshire Freemasons to make a difference. The feedback was inspiring.

David said “although new in my role, one thing that remains constant is our determination and resolve to support organisations that need financial help during these difficult times. Freemasons are well known for their support of those in need, last year alone giving around £50 million to charities and good causes, putting Freemasonry into the top 10 of grant making organisations in the UK. We will continue to play our part in Cheshire and I know my colleagues around the country will do the same”. David added “Freemasons are not a charity themselves and do not collect money from the public, but every Lodge makes collections from its members for charitable use and this soon adds up, there being approx. 3,700 Cheshire Freemasons. Some of the funds go directly to charities and good causes, some to local charitable organisations and some to the Freemasons national charity, which then gives money to both national and international good causes. Our members, like so many others, are working hard across their communities and as an organisation, we are doing the same. It is also worth noting that members give in excess of 50,000 charitable hours to support good causes and the community in which they live.”

Senior Freemason Harry Wright, who works closely with David and others to ensure funds are distributed across the County and further afield said “The celebration evening was a great success and well attended by many recipients who had received support.

Harry continued “All in attendance very grateful and keen to show their appreciation, but in reality, it is us who are thanking them who work so hard and do amazing things day in and day out.”.

During the evening, David presented a cheque to £5,000 to Local Fundraising Manager, Amanda from MacMillan who said “a huge thank you to The Freemasons for their support”, adding “this means Macmillan can now be there for even more patients affected by cancer”.

Service

Freemasonry and Service

For Freemasons, there are four important values that help define their path through life: Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Service. In today’s world filled with uncertainty, these principles ring as true as they have at any point in the organisation’s history.

Integrity: Building good people

Freemasons are focused on building themselves as people of integrity and membership provides the structure to help achieve that goal.

Friendship: Building together

Freemasonry provides the common foundation for friendships between members, many of which will last for life.

Respect: Building unity

Freemasonry brings people together irrespective of their race, religion or any other perceived differences that can divide us as a society.

Service: Building compassion

Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry and the organisation provides the structure for members to make positive contributions to their communities and various causes.

It is therefore, no surprise to find that from its earliest foundations Freemasonry supported those in need, primarily orphans, the sick and the elderly. Over the last three hundred years the charitable support provided by Freemasons has ever expanded with local, national and international charities receiving regular financial assistance.

From the moment someone joins Freemasonry he is made aware of the importance of charity and the need to support and care of those who are less fortunate than ourselves. This is evidenced by the fact that the Freemasons of England and Wales have become one of the top ten grant-making Organisations in those countries.

The money for this charitable giving is provided by members  in a number of ways; a small portion of each members subscription is donated to the Masonic Charitable Foundation (the main central Masonic Charity); many members make a regular monthly donation; collections are made during lodge meeting; there may be a raffle, or similar, during the meal after a lodge meeting; and other specific fund raising events for Lodge members and their families are also held regularly.

We are one of the largest charitable givers in the country, contributing more than £48 million to deserving causes in 2018. Click here to find out more.

Below are some of the charities that have recently received support from Freemasons.

Click on the image above to view the latest figures from the MCF

Welfare

Teddies for Loving Care - TLC

Teddies for Loving Care, or TLC as it is more commonly known, is a charity set up some 16 years ago by a Freemason in Essex. On taking his wife to their local A&E Department for treatment, they both quickly realised the fear that children must go through when they have to be admitted into A&E, so they set about forming a charity to raise funds from Freemasons.

It soon gathered momentum throughout the country and is now well established in all Provinces. TLC is now able to provide Teddies to A&E Departments for the staff to give to distressed children where they feel the Teddies would relieve their stress.

To date, Cheshire Freemasons have donated more than 161,000 Teddies to the A&E Departments in all of the major hospitals throughout Cheshire.

TLC also provides Teddies to Clatterbridge Children’s Cancer Care Unit where they are given to children who are being treated for cancer.

If you have any queries about TLC please click here to contact

RMBI Care Home

The Royal Masonic Institution (now RMBI Care Co) operates 17 care homes across England & Wales.  Caring has been their way of life since 1842 and they provide a home for over 1,000 people across England and Wales – while supporting many more.

Whether people need residential or nursing care, dementia support or limited sheltered accommodation, they are cared for professionally and kindly.

They treat people as individuals – and work together with everyone to design a care plan that meets their needs and allows them to experience wellbeing and meaningfulness.

Those members of the Masonic community who choose an RMBI Home have the security of knowing that they have a home for life, even if their financial circumstances change – as long as RMBI Care Co can still support their needs.

RMBI Care Co. is part of the Masonic Charitable Foundation – a new charity for Freemasons, for families, for everyone. For more information, please visit their site

On Tuesday 21st September 2021, Freemason Malcolm Cooke was honoured to have been invited to the opening of the new Maggie’s Centre at Clatterbridge at the Steve Morgan Foundation Building.  The original centre was housed in a series of 5 porta cabins adjacent to the Clatterbridge Cancer Care Hospital.  Designed as a temporary home to accommodate 3000 visitors a year, the centre in actual fact welcomed some 17,000 visitors a year, all affected in some way by cancer.

When Steve Morgan CBE had cause to visit the centre some while ago, he stated that the buildings were totally unsuitable and not fit for purpose.  He there and then pledged to build a new structure fit for the 21stCentury.  His charitable foundation, of which he is chairman, commissioned, designed and built the new magnificent structure.

Several local dignitaries and celebrities attended the opening including Lady Redmond MBE the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire and Councillor Jeff Green Deputy Mayor of Wirral.

Malcolm, who is a Deputy Charity Steward, represented the Cheshire Freemasons Charity (CFC) which has given great support to Maggie’s Centres at Clatterbridge and Christie’s, Manchester, having donated many thousands of pounds over the years.   He was thanked for the continuing support given by Cheshire Freemasons by Dame Laura Lee, CEO and co-founder of Maggie’s and Kathy Wright the Head of Centre at Clatterbridge stating that the support given is appreciated so much and its’ value should not be underestimated.

L2R is Steve Morgan CBE, Kathy Wright Head of Centre Clatterbridge, Malcolm Cooke, Dame Laura Lee CEO Maggie’s outside the new Steve Morgan Foundation Building.

Cheshire Freemasons Charity have made numerous donations and enhanced fundings to Maggie’s Centres.  Malcolm is a member of Phoenix Lodge which meets in Birkenhead which has for many years championed and supported Maggie’s at Clatterbridge, and indeed Phoenix Lodge took the lead and organised a Virtual Coastal Walk by other local Freemasons in February this year which raised a total of £13,500 after enhancement from CFC.  Malcolm thanked all three for their hospitality and promised to continue the Freemasons support in the future.

South Cheshire Masonic Golf Society

The Societies main form of fund raising comes from the competitive golf days it organises at some of the best golf courses in Cheshire, Wirral, North Wales and Shropshire. 

The members are encouraged to invite guests and membership comes from both Freemasons and non-masons. The SCMGS are always looking  to expand the current membership and you don’t have to be a fantastic player, just someone who likes the game and the social side that goes with it. 

For more information email the secretary, Noel Martin .

Charity Website Links

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire

Ashcroft House, 36 Clay Lane, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 7AB
Tel : 0161 980 6090 | Email : webenquiries@cheshiremasons.co.uk

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