RMTGB Festival Forum Proves Huge Success

The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB) has held its first Masonic Charity Festival Forum, attended by representatives from eight Provinces either in Festival or recently having completed one.
     They were joined by Council members and Trust staff to share ideas, learn from each other and explore improved approaches to successful fundraising and organisation of Festival events.
     Until now there has been no framework for sharing ideas and learning from others, which is increasingly important as charity fundraising becomes more professional.
     The Festival Forum is one of several new initiatives planned by the Trust following a fundamental review of current practice and the development of a new public relations and fundraising strategy. The day included:

• A key presentation on principles of successful charity fundraising;
• Presentations by the last three Provinces to be in Festival to the Trust as well as some who are currently in Festival, highlighting what they have learned and what they would recommend to others;
• Syndicate discussions leading to the development of a recommended list of principles to be applied in Festival appeals;
• A presentation on the basics of good external public relations;
• Presentations on the mission and work of the Trust and the assistance it can give to Provinces in running successful Festival appeals and in identifying potential beneficiaries;
• Presentations describing the different models for Festival events and how to organise them successfully;
• Action planning sessions, during which delegates from other Provinces and Trust staff assisted Provinces in Festival to critically review and improve their plans for the future.

The Festival Forum will become an annual event, enabling a wider participation and encouraging Provinces who are coming up to a Festival to begin planning earlier with the help of relevant advice.
     The RMTGB currently supports 1,800 children and young people at a cost of over £9 million each year, with every family having suffered poverty and distress.
     Much of the care is long term, and in addition to financial assistance, the Trust maintains a welfare team working in the community, offering practical advice and support to those families most in need.
     To learn more about the Trust and how to assist financially or to attend the next Festival Forum, contact Les Hutchinson, secretary to the Council, on 020 7405 2644 or info@rmtgb.org or go to the web site at www.rmtgb.org for further information.

Lifelites Launches New Web Site

Lifelites has launched its new web site. Chairman Christopher Aylwin said: “With the number of children’s hospices anticipated to reach 45 throughout the UK by 2010, we have made a big commitment and we intend to keep our promise to life-limited children and their families in hospices.”
     Although Lifelites no longer benefits from Masonic donations via the RMTGB, the two charities will maintain their strong links, giving Lifelites an excellent start as an independent fund-raising body. For more information, visit www.lifelites.org or call 0207 440 4200.

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity Gives Special Support to Children’s Hospices

For 23 years The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has operated its popular Hospice Grants Scheme annually, supporting over 200 services across England and Wales with donations towards their operating costs. Although adults and children’s services have always been helped through the scheme, for the first time, in 2007, a sum of money was specifically allocated to support children’s hospices.
     In England, adult charitable hospices currently receive an average of only 34% of their funding from the government and children's hospices receive an average of just 5%, so they must raise millions of additional pounds every year to ensure they can continue to provide important care and support to people in need.
     The grants from the Grand Charity are available to any operating hospice that receives 60% or less of its funding from the NHS, and together with generous support from local and Provincial lodges, they make a valuable contribution towards this annual target.
     With a low level of funding from government, children’s hospices face particular difficulties, and in recognition of this the Grand Charity now considers their applications separately.
     A sum of £100,000 was set aside to help the 31 services working with children and young people which received support in 2007 and the majority benefited a grant of over £3,000. Combined with grants ranging from £500 to over £8,000 to 189 adult services, nearly £600,000 was given during the year, taking the sum given since 1984 to more than £7 million.
     All hospices supported in 2007 will automatically receive an application for further support in 2008. To learn more about the Hospice Grant Scheme and to view a full list of the grants given in 2007, visit www.grandcharity.org/hospice_grants.php

New Web Site Launched With Extra Features

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has launched a new and improved website at www.grandcharity.org. The site incorporates a host of features:

• Latest news from the Charity, including the option to sign up for regular email updates direct to your inbox;
• Information on applying for grants, including downloadable application forms;
• Downloadable publicity leaflets and other materials about the Charity for use at events and other occasions;
• A dedicated Relief Chest Section, including printable forms;
• Search facility and site map to help you find the information required

Over the forthcoming months the site will be expanding to include more information and features, so why not add www.grandcharity.org to your list of favourite sites today and sign up to receive regular news updates at www.grandcharity.org/sign_up_for_updates.php

New Logo and Old Title for Masonic Samaritan Fund

When it was established in 1990, the Masonic Samaritan Fund adopted the prefix of ‘New’ in order to differentiate it from the Samaritan Fund at the Royal Masonic Hospital. As the ‘New’ Fund enters its 18th year, this potential confusion is no longer considered relevant.
     The Board of Management of the Fund has therefore decided to revert to using what has always been the official legal title of the Charity – The Masonic Samaritan Fund.
     At the same time, and in anticipation of the move into Freemasons’ Hall, the Fund has redesigned its logo. It retains much that is familiar, but also now incorporates a brief statement that helps to explain the type of support that it seeks to provide.
     If you would like further details of the ‘Medical Care and Support’ that is available, please contact the Fund direct on 020 7404 1550 or visit the website at msfund.org.uk.

MSF Seeks Medical and Lay Recruits to its Board

As a result of a number of recent retirements, the Masonic Samaritan Fund is looking to appoint new members to its Board of Management. It is keen to recruit individuals with current experience in a number of medical specialities (especially cardiac) as well as general practitioners. In addition, the Fund would like to hear from any non-medical volunteers who would be interested in contributing to the ongoing successful governance of this important charity.
     If you would like further details, including the likely time commitment required, please contact by letter or email Richard Douglas, Chief Executive, MSF, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ (Richard@msfund.org.uk)

Extra Support Given as Grants Reach £3.7m for Financial Year for More Than 600 Applicants

In its recent financial year, the Masonic Samaritan Fund has supported more applicants than in any previous year since it was established. Grants totalling £3.7m have been made in support of 626 applicants – a 25% increase compared with the previous year. This level of charitable giving equates to £10,000 every day of the year in direct support of those in need of medical care and support.
     This support has been made available for a wide variety of needs. It has been provided to applicants of all ages who have an identified medical need and, faced with a long wait for, or unable to access, treatment via the NHS, cannot afford their own private treatment.
     Support has been available equally to Freemasons and their wives, partners, widows and dependants. Last year, the youngest applicant was six months old, whilst the oldest to date was 104 years young!
     The Fund considers that a wait for NHS treatment of three months or more (two months for cardiac treatment) is too long. Whilst many applications continue to request support for orthopaedic treatment, hip and knee replacements, support has also been provided this year for weight loss surgery, age-related macular degeneration and the provision of cancer drugs amongst many others.
     With only minor exceptions, the Fund will consider applications for support with any treatment or surgery that is licensed for provision by the NHS.
     With an ever increasing number of people caring for a loved one at home, support is also available from the Fund in support of the provision of Respite Care. Support is available to fund the provision of care for the individual in need of care, so that the carer can enjoy a well-deserved break from their 24 hour a day, seven days a week caring responsibilities. One such case involved a 78-year-old stroke victim, who was also diabetic and awaiting a pacemaker, and relies on his wife for his mobility. She has arthritis, is also diabetic and recently underwent a TKR. She was exhausted with her caring responsibilities, and had fallen many times. The Fund paid for respite to enable her to recharge her batteries, knowing that her husband was being well cared for.
     If you would like further details of the support available from the Masonic Samaritan Fund, please contact them direct by telephone or email or visit their website.
     Support is available, but can only be provided if the Fund is made aware of the medical care and support that is needed. Contact details: Masonic Samaritan Fund, 60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ. Telephone: 020 7404 1550. Fax: 020 7404 1544. Email: mail@msfund.org.uk and web site: www.msfund.org.uk

First World War Veterans Meet At RMBI Home

One of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute’s Lord Harris Court residents recently had two very interesting visitors, when William Stone was delighted to welcome Henry Allingham and Harry Patch for lunch at the Home.
     Mr Stone, Mr Allingham and Mr Patch, who are 107, 111 and 109 respectively, are believed to be the only three remaining veterans of World War I living in the UK.
     William Stone joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker in 1918, when the war was drawing to a close, but stayed on to serve in the Navy throughout World War II, which included taking part in the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk and later at the Sicily landings where his ship was damaged by a torpedo.
     Henry Allingham served as an air mechanic in the Royal Naval Air Service at the Battle of Jutland and later on the Western Front, while Harry Patch was a machine gunner with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and was wounded at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.
     The three veterans enjoyed the lunch and spent time with other residents and staff. They were also visited by a television crew from BBC South.
     Everybody at Lord Harris Court enjoyed themselves, including Mr Stone’s daughter, Anne Davidson, who said: “They have met at Buckingham Palace, but they do not usually get to meet more casually. Just the three of them together was a lovely occasion.’
     The day was arranged by the First World War Veterans Association, and the RMBI and Lord Harris Court were very happy to be involved with the day.