Head of the Cheshire Freemasons, Stephen Blank, recently welcomed a number of local dignitaries and charity representatives and voluntary workers to a celebratory evening to hear how organisations have benefited from £1Million donated by Cheshire Freemasons over the past 12 months or so.
Stephen Blank welcomes guests.
The event was well attended by charities and organisations from across Cheshire, including: –
CAFT in High Legh, Men in Sheds in Hartford, St Anne’s Hospice, St Luke’s Hospice in Winsford, Papyrus in Warrington, Young Christian Workers in Sandbach, Riding for the Disabled, in Weaverham, Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Chester, Leighton Hospital Childrens Ward and Leighton Hospital Prostate Cancer Charity, Chester Sexual Abuse Support Services, Manchester Carers Forum in Frodsham, Besoms Wirral in Wallasey, Open Door Centre in Wallasey, Maggies Merseyside in Clatterbridge as well as Claire House Children’s Hospice, Irby Village Hall, Wirral Hospice of St John, Foundation Years Trust in Birkenhead, Halton Haven Hospice in Runcorn, Chapter (West Cheshire) Ltd in Ellesmere Port, Ruby’s Fund based in Congleton, the East Cheshire Hospice in Macclesfield, Helping the Homeless into Housing in Stockport, Acorn in Stockport, Maggies at The Christie, The Bren Project at Barton Airport, Lifelites, Stockdales of Sale,
Stephen started proceedings saying: “Freemasons are not a charity themselves and we 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. 4,000 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. I am proud to be able to advise that Cheshire Freemasons continue to support so many good causes.
The Lord Lieutenant thanks the Freemasons for their support
It is both interesting and rewarding for the members to know how the money they donate is being used and it is evenings like this that help to show just that. I am grateful to the generosity of our members, to the team who work so hard criss-crossing Cheshire looking for good causes, and of course the many organisations who benefit from the actual handover of the cheques and do such amazing work day in, day out.”
In 2017, Freemasons gave a total of around £46 million to charities and good causes which puts Freemasonry into the top 10 of grant making organisations in the UK.
The charities in attendance were all keen to say a few words as to how the varying donation received has allowed for the development or investment into helping others and the audience were interested to hear from so many organisations as they spoke about the great work they are doing.
In addition to some of the more local charities, other beneficiaries spread across Cheshire included the St Johns Ambulance, North West Air Ambulance, CHAPS (Cheshire Autism Practical Support), Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) and numerous Hospice.