6 minute read
Charities
the Almoner’s Masonic Centre based networking and communications structure, which although planned would have been by physical meetings only. The Centre Almoner and Lodge Almoners who have joined the surgeries, are really helping to make a significant contribution to the pastoral and welfare scene of the Province, Whilst the physical visits to the charity office have been interrupted for over a year, weekly virtual charity office meetings to maintain the work of the office have taken their place. As LRMCA Secretary, regular virtual grant approving meetings have ensured grants have been made to many worthy charities, whilst as PGA, the ability to make emergency grants from the LRMCA funds, has enabled urgent support to be provided to brethren in urgent financial distress. There are many other aspects of the past year which I can reflect on, but I hope you have found this short article informative, which only highlights some of the resilience which has come from responding to the pandemic, whilst not forgetting the personal heartache and tragedy which has befallen many, and which will remain with many of us for several years ahead.
David Highton,
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Provincial Grand Almoner
Smile, it’s Amazon Calling!
Are you and members of your family Amazon customers? Did you know that the Leicestershire and Rutland Masonic Charity Association could benefit from what you purchase from Amazon.
If you register with Amazon Smile, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the cost of every purchase to the LRMCA. To take advantage of this offer and to help support the LRMCA, go to www.smile.amazon.co.uk for more information.
If you use a mobile phone or tablet computer for your Amazon shopping, then follow these simple steps: 1. Download or update the latest
Amazon shopping app on your mobile phone or android tablet, (unfortunately at the moment it will not work on iPads) you can find this app in the Apple App Store or Google
Play, or simply put the question ‘How do I set up Amazon Smile’ in your web browser search box and follow the instructions. It really is very easy. 2. Open the app and find ‘settings’ from the main menu. 3. Tap on Amazon Smile and follow the on screen instructions, the LRMCA is already listed so tick this box and use this as your preferred charity. 4. Order as you would normally on
Amazon, but now you will see at the top of your page Smile.Amazon, if it doesn’t then go back to step one to check you have the right app. The LRMCA could benefit by thousands of pounds a year if we all take part. This would enable us to continue supporting local charities in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland without costing you any more money. Please support this and encourage members of your family to take part as well. If they register, any purchases they make are also eligible. If you need any more information, do not hesitate to contact the Provincial Charity Office.
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£42,000 Donation to Help Fight Diabetes
Two thousand children and young people with Type 1 Diabetes will receive support from an innovative new app to help manage their condition, thanks to a grant of £42,000 from Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons to the Leicester Hospitals Charity.
The new mobile education app, known as DEAPP, has been developed by the Children’s Research Centre, and aims to educate patients and families through 12 creative and engaging learning sessions which can be played through a smart phone, a tablet, or a PC. The app provides instant access to online information whenever required, without needing to wait for medical appointments. It is already in use in 28 hospitals across England and Wales, and plans are in place to roll it out to every hospital in England and Wales by 2022. The grant will allow the app to be adapted to help patients and families from black and ethnic minorities, where English is not the main language spoken, or for families of patients with learning disabilities. This will be achieved by adding additional modules and components to DEAPP to help provide relevant information to these patients and their families, ensuring that all children diagnosed can have equal access to high-quality education about Type 1 Diabetes as they begin their lifelong management of the condition. The aim is to translate the app into Welsh, Somali, Punjabi and Urdu. Beyond that, DEAPP will be developed to focus on resources for over-16s, specifically in terms of health and wellbeing, dealing with mental health, risk taking behaviour and how these impact on a young person’s diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes can cause serious health challenges, as it is 4.5 times more likely for these young children to experience heart failure and 3.5 times more likely to experience stroke later in life. Around 33,000 children under 19 are living with Type 1 Diabetes in the UK, with 3,000 children diagnosed each year. This is growing at an alarming rate of 4 per cent a year, particularly with children under the age of five. There are currently 375 children aged 0-16, in Leicestershire & Rutland, with Type 1 Diabetes, along with 15 children with Type 2 Diabetes. Approximately 85 per cent of people diagnosed have no family history of the condition, and it is a major priority to educate families as well as children in Leicester Hospitals Charity. Lisa Davies at Leicester Hospitals Charity said: “We’re very grateful for the generous grant from Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons which is making a big difference to the care of children being treated for Type 1 Diabetes in Leicester’s Hospitals. It’s clear that in future it’ll make a huge contribution to the lives of these children and their families.”
The Definition of Gratitude
If one were to look up the definition of ‘Gratitude’ it would read “…noun…the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.”
The quality to “return kindness” is fundamental to all Freemasons. It is this value that we acknowledge when giving to charity at our festive boards. This is true for the brethren of the Lodge of Gratitude, No. 6514, who have, since being forced into an extended period of darkness, had to bring a semblance of ‘light’ to their lives. Maybe it was with this in mind, when Director of Ceremonies Phil Caswell had the idea of setting up a Bonus Ball Lottery for members of the lodge to participate in. Over a ten-week rolling programme, each brother could purchase a bonus ball number, or numbers, wait for Saturday’s bonus ball and await their windfall! To date, the Lodge has raised over £880 towards the 2022 Festival. However, to date, the writer of this article, has yet to win! Thirty weeks, not even a close call.
Master of the Lodge of Gratitude
Darren Smith, said,
