Public opening of a New adventure play area designed to be accessible to children of all abilities at an award winning outdoor education centre

This project was the chosen charity of the 2010/11 Lord Mayor of Bradford, Cllr Peter Hill, who is a Nell Bank Trustee and a member of Lodge of the Three Graces No. 408 in Haworth in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding.

The need was to replace an existing play area that, after hosting up to 20,000 children annually for nearly two decades, had reached the end of its useful life.

The project was to design a structure that would have a much longer lifespan than its predecessor, and which would be accessible to children of all abilities.

Raising money as the true impact of the worldwide recession began to bite was not easy, despite the great generosity of the people of Bradford. At one stage it looked as if the project would have to be scaled down and not fully achieve its goal.

However, an application to West Riding Masonic Charities made by Lodge of the Three Graces and seconded by Victoria Lodge No. 2669 of Bradford, resulted in a truly generous grant of £20,000 being made through the Provincial Grand Master's Fund, and was presented by the Provincial Grand Master, John Clayton.

This sum provided the additional funds to build 'The Tree House Adventure' to its full potential. A unique play area, accessible to children of all abilities, including wheelchair users, and so realise the dream of providing an inclusive play and educational area for generations of children to come.

The Tree House Adventure was declared open on 11th May 2013, the annual Nell Bank public access day, by Nell Bank Trustee Bro Peter Hill, see picture above.

Bradford re-enactment

With the first masons admitted in Bradford in 1713, a special re-enactment was performed 300 years later in the city for the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding. Wearing dress appropriate to the era, including wigs and frock coats, 13 players – members of several local lodges – recreated the historic moment. Hosted by the Lodge of Hope, No. 302, the re-enactment was performed to an audience of more than 100 Bradford masons, including Provincial Grand Master John Clayton.

Local Freemasons donate over £223,500 during 2012 to Community Groups and Organisations to Mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

During the course of 2012, local community groups and organisations have benefited from grants totalling over £223,500, given by the Freemasons in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding, to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The grants have ranged from £100 to provide new crockery for a residents' association in Holmfirth, to £30,000 given to a special needs school in Rastrick to enable them to complete their new hydrotherapy pool. A total of 149 grants have been made to applicants from throughout the Province covering West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and parts of North Yorkshire.

Speaking shortly after the final grants had been approved, John Clayton, Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire, West Riding, said: 'This last group of grants completes our work during the year to mark this very special occasion, the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty's reign and afford help to those who work tirelessly for their own communities.

'We wish the organisations who have received our grants all the best in their endeavours. I am always impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication with which they approach their work for the community. We hope that our financial support will go some way to assist them in that work.

'In the last 25 years the Province has given almost £3 million to support local non-masonic causes. Not a penny of that money came from the general public; it was all donated by members of the Province, their families and their friends.'

Thanks to a grant of £9,000, Harrogate Hospital Radio – a charity which first took to the airwaves in 1977 – has been able to refurbish its off-air studio with a state-of-the art mixing desk and associated furniture.

Provincial Grand Master John Clayton 'took to the air' during a recent visit, the radio station being just one of the charities to benefit from the £223,500 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee grants.

Members of Harrogate Hospital Radio invited W Bro John Clayton – plus members of Vale of Nidd Lodge who nominated the charity – to officially open its revamped Studio 2.

Harrogate Hospital Radio presenter Ellie Jackson, whose original approach to W Bro Michael Walker, of Vale of Nidd Lodge No. 4984, led to the successful application, used the opportunity to interview RW Bro Clayton about Freemasonry, its history and 'secrets'.

RW Bro Clayton also spoke about the TLC (Teddies for Loving Care) scheme – of which Harrogate District Hospital is a beneficiary – and recorded a number of messages wishing patients a speedy recovery.

RW Bro Clayton said: 'Harrogate Hospital Radio is a wonderful charity and I’m delighted we have been able to support this worthwhile cause. It is highly regarded by patients and staff alike and plays an import role in hospital life.

'It’s always gratifying to be invited to see how our donations are being put to good use.'

Harrogate Hospital Radio Chairman Iain Wighton said: 'We are indebted to the Freemasons for their incredibly generous gift. In particular, I’d like to thank members of Pateley Bridge’s Vale of Nidd Lodge for nominating us in the first place.

'Thanks to this donation, and that of a number of other organisations, we have been able to upgrade our second studio to the same standard as our main, on-air studio.'

He added: 'Harrogate Hospital Radio’s first broadcast was 35 years ago, and our equipment then consisted of one record player, one reel to reel tape recorder and a microphone.

'Through to successive appeals, the support of numerous local organisations and members’ own fund-raising activities, we can now justifiably boast to having some of the best broadcasting facilities anywhere in the Yorkshire region.'

The Yorkshire and Humberside arm of a national charity which helps change the lives of young people has been given a significant boost by Yorkshire Freemasons

Members of Doncaster's Don Valley Lodge, which meets in the town's Masonic Hall on Priory Place, hosted the presentation of cheques totalling £10,000 to two representatives from the Prince's Trust.

The donations, £5,000 from West Riding Masonic Charities and £5,000 from The Freemasons' Grand Charity, were presented to Prince's Trust Regional Chairman, Andrew Farley, and Prince's Trust Youth Ambassador, Rebecca Taylor, by John Kendall Clayton, the Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire, West Riding.

Rebecca told the meeting how the Prince's Trust had totally transformed her life. She left school at the age of 15 with no qualifications and, in 2007, while carrying her first child, she was made redundant, subsequently losing her home.

'I lost everything', she said. 'I went to various organisations and literally begged for help, but there was no help. Then I was told to approach the Prince's Trust. They listened and they believed.

'I had done a beauty course and they gave me a grant to learn to drive so I could "go mobile". I went on more courses and then, with their help, set up my own business.'

Rebecca approached the Frenchgate Centre asking if she could rent a unit to set up a beauty salon. In December 2010, she became the shopping centre's youngest tenant.

'I now train young, employed girls and employ a team of beauty therapists and am a Prince's Trust Ambassador. I opened in a recession so the business should have been doomed for failure. It isn't and it's giving young girls hope too.'

As a way of repaying the Trust, Rebecca went to them with an idea which has now been adopted nationally. The Tomorrow Campaign aims to help 55,000 young people a year into employment.

'I owe everything to the Prince's Trust and this donation is fantastic. I can't get over how much you have raised. This is going to make such a difference.'

Mr Clayton said: 'We are delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile cause. The Prince's Trust does fantastic work in supporting young people, and Rebecca is testament to this.

'She is a true inspiration. When others had written her off and consigned her to the scrapheap, the Prince's Trust listened to her, and, more importantly, believed in her.'

Local Community Groups and Charities in £176,000 Masonic Grant Giving to Mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

So far a total of more than £176,000 of an allotted £250,000 has been given to 93 local organisations by the Freemasons of Yorkshire, West Riding to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Speaking at a ceremony held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds attended by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, John K Clayton, Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire, West Riding, said: “We are proud to be able to mark this very special occasion, the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty’s reign in the this way and help those who work tirelessly for own communities.

“In the last 25 years the Province has given over £2.5 million to support local non-Masonic causes. Not a penny of that money came from the general public, it was all down to the members of the Province, their families and their friends.

“It is fitting that an organisation such as the Freemasons, which teaches and practices concern for people; care for the less fortunate and help for those in need, should mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty by making available these grants.”

The Lord Lieutenant said: “I am indebted to the Freemasons of Yorkshire, West Riding for their incredible generosity.

“We appreciate that in these tough and challenging economic times giving to charity may not be as high a priority as it once was. This is not the case with the Freemasons and your grants clearly demonstrate this.”

The following is a list of the recipients of Grants to July.

 

The Freemasons’ of Yorkshire, West Riding

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Masonic Grants

Grants To July 2012

BENEFICIARY	PURPOSE	GRANT	LOCATION
Highbury School, Rastrick	Improvement of School Hydrotherapy Pool	£30,000	Rastrick
Hepworth Brass Band	Purchase of new Instruments	£20,000	Huddersfield
Colne Valley Museum	Reception Shop and Café Area	£12,000	Huddersfield
Firefly Express Cancer Awareness and Support Foundation	Introduction of Second Mini Bus	£10,000	Doncaster
Rotherham Women’s Refuge	Garden Equipment and Bicycles	£10,000	Rotherham
Harrogate Hospital Radio, The Patients Channel	Replacement of Studio Desks	£9,000	Harrogate
Special Needs Objective Outreach Project (SNOOP)	Multi Sensory Room	£9,000	Bradford
Burnsall Village Hall	New Window and Stage Curtains	£5,000	Skipton
Norfolk Park School for Children with Special Needs	Special Needs Equipment	£5,000	Sheffield
Spen Valley Scouting	Towards Works	£5,000	Gomersal
Waves Day Care Centre	Funding for Development	£2,500	Slaithwaite
Doncaster School for the Deaf	Purchase Playground Equipment	£2,000	Doncaster
Gladiator Boxing Academy	Equipment	£2,000	Huddersfield
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue	Equipment	£2,000	Ilkley
Knaresborough Community First Responders	Equipment	£1,800	Knaresborough
Disability Partnership Calderdale	Specialised IT Equipment for Visually impaired	£1,500	Halifax
Holly Bank Trust School	New Television's	£1,500	Mirfield
Weekend Care	Wish List	£1,500	Elland
N & W Yorks. Assoc. for Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus	Hold a workshop for Families with Children under Nine	£1,200	Leeds
Teenage & Young Adult Cancer Unit - St. James's Hospital	Hiring Disabled Lodges for a Weekend Retreat	£1,200	Leeds
Burton Leonard Playground Appeal	Originally Sept 11 & March 12 request.	£1,000	Harrogate
Castle Hill School	Part Cost of Acheeva Learning Station	£1,000	Huddersfield
Dearne Big Band & Barnsley Youth Jazz Association	Part Cost of Musical Instruments	£1,000	Barnsley
Dewsbury Collegians	Repainting of Rehearsal Rooms	£1,000	Dewsbury
Farsley Fairfield Primary School	Towards Works	£1,000	Leeds
Farsley Farfield Primary School	Donation to Mini Bus	£1,000	Leeds
Idle Juniors Football Club	Kit and Safety Folding Goal Posts	£1,000	Idle
JASP Pupil Referral Unit	Short Break Holidays	£1,000	Doncaster
Newman School	Part Cost of Portable Stage	£1,000	Rotherham
Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels	Contribution to Sound System (Community List)	£1,000	Dewsbury
Rawmarsh Children’s Centre	Development of a Play Area	£1,000	Rotherham
Ripon Citizens Advice Bureau	Refurbishment and New IT Equipment	£1,000	Ripon
The Principle Trust	Part Cost of Decking and Ramp for Wheelchairs	£1,000	Baildon
BENEFICIARY	PURPOSE	GRANT	LOCATION
The Maurice Jagger Centre	Part Cost of New Mini Bus	£1,000	Halifax
Todmorden in Bloom	Replace Benches	£1,000	Todmorden
Northridge Community School	Purchase Specialist Play Equipment	£850	Doncaster
Holy Trinity Primary School	Equipment for a Child	£800	Ossett
Parson House Outdoor Pursuits Centre	Donation to Mini Bus	£800	Sheffield
The Samaritans Rotherham	Two Easy Chairs	£800	Rotherham
Ivanhoe Centre Conisbrough	CCTV System	£775	Conisborough
8th Keighley Scout Group	Purchase Two Tents	£750	Keighley
Addingham Civic Society	Football Field & Playground	£750	Ilkley
British Wado-Ryu Karate Union	Part Cost of Practice Mats	£750	Doncaster
Pro Socker Pumas Under 15s	New Kit for Under 15's Team	£750	Sheffield
Rotherham Town under 11 Football team	Kit and Equipment	£750	Rotherham
Saddleworth School Angling Club	Restock Fish	£750	Saddleworth
St Andrews Child Contact Centre	Purchase of Settees	£750	Sheffield
Tadcaster Community Swimming Pool	New Defribulator	£750	Tadcaster
Guiseley in Bloom	Part cost of Six Commemorative Trees to mark the Diamond Jubilee	£650	Leeds
393 Club	Mess Tent for Annual Summer Camp in August	£500	Sheffield
Aireborough Voluntary Services	Part Cost of Computer & Software	£500	Otley
Almscliffe Tennis & Bowling Club	Contribution to Bowling Green Machinery	£500	Harrogate
Association of Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus	Part Cost of Educational Weekend	£500	Otley
Carers' Resource	New Equipment	£500	Ripon
MAKOR	Leeds Jewish International Performing Arts Festival	£500	Leeds
The Forest School	Part Cost of Gardening Equipment and Materials	£500	Knaresborough
Heckmondwike Town Junior Football Club	Under 12's Football Kit & Training Equipment	£500	Heckmondwike
Holmbridge Cricket Club	Equipment from Wish List	£500	Holmfirth
Home Start, Young Mums	Equipment	£500	Huddersfield
Kirkheaton Scouts and Guides	Contribution to New Windows for Scout Premises	£500	Huddersfield
Languages Sheffield	Contribution to Newsletter & Website Production	£500	Sheffield
Lock Lane under 10s AFC	New Strip for Under 10's Team	£500	Pontefract
Lydgate Special School	Part Cost of Holiday Equipment	£500	Holmfirth
Mediquip for Kids	To Complete Art Work at Calderdale Royal Hospital	£500	Halifax
Newsome Panthers ARLFC	Part Cost of New Kitchen	£500	Huddersfield
North Gawber Colliery Football Club	Contribution to Kit and Equipment	£500	Barnsley
OPAL	Contribution to Mini Bus Hire for Shopping	£500	Leeds
Open Country	Part Cost of Allotment Equipment and Tools	£500	Harrogate
Razzmatazz	Part Cost of Sound System	£500	Barnsley
Ripon YMCA	Grant towards Portable Stage Lighting	£500	Ripon
Rotherham District Explorer Scouts	Equipment for all weather Camping	£500	Rotherham
Rotherham Freeliners Angling Association	Equipment	£500	Rotherham
Sewing Club @ The Miners	Sewing Machines	£500	Barnsley
Sheffield Scout Sailing	To Replace Safety Equipment	£500	Sheffield
St. Peters Church Thrybergh	Redevelopment Room into Meeting Room	£500	Rotherham
BENEFICIARY	PURPOSE	GRANT	LOCATION
Whiston Junior and infant School Friends Association	Part Cost of Out Door Play Area and Equipment	£500	Rotherham
Boroughbridge & District Community Care	Photocopier and Desk	£400	Ripon
Idle and Thackley Theatre Group	Part Cost of New Stage Lighting	£400	Bradford
St. Joseph's Court Leopold & West Garth Residents Association	Financial Help with Coach Hire	£400	Dinnington
The Royal British Legion (Band) Skipton	Band Instruments	£400	Skipton
Castleford Male Voice Choir	Wish List	£300	Pontefract
Kirkheaton United Church	Part Cost of Portable IT Equipment	£300	Huddersfield
Wilf Ward Family Trust	Contribution to New Kitchen Equipment	£300	Leeds
Blenheim Court Care Centre	Donation for Outings	£250	Sheffield
Holmfirth Town Football Club	Contribution to Under 10's & 11's Equipment	£250	Holmfirth
Huddersfield Heart Start	Cardiac Trainer	£250	Huddersfield
Millhouse Junior and Infant School	Part Cost of New PA System for Choir Concerts	£250	Barnsley
Penistone Ladies Choir	Part Cost of New Electronic Keyboard	£250	Barnsley
Sheffield Parent Carer Forum	Part Cost of Computer & Software	£250	Sheffield
Todmorden Talking Newspaper	Memory Sticks	£250	Todmorden
Charles St Community Centre	Radio Receivers and Microphones	£100	Mexborough
Parson Cross Community Development Forum	Contribution to Therapeutic Art Class	£100	Sheffield
Roundway Tenants & Residents Association	Part Cost of New Crockery	£100	Holmfirth
	TOTAL TO JULY 2012	£175,925

 

 

 

Susan Beaumont has been confined to a wheelchair for the past 10 years. Although she lives independently she remains, at 34 years of age, reliant on her parents for both physical and financial support. Susan has limb girdle muscular dystrophy – a progressive condition that causes weakness in her hip, thigh and shoulder muscles – making it increasingly difficult for her to manage in a self-propelled wheelchair. Her mother, as primary carer, spends the majority of each day with Susan, while her parents remain on call at night in case she is unwell or there is an unforeseen household emergency.

Paul Healey, Almoner of Susan’s father’s lodge, applied to the Masonic Samaritan Fund in the hope of securing a grant to supply a powered wheelchair. The application was successful and Susan is now enjoying a new-found freedom and increased independence without the need to rely on others to push her around. One of her first outings was to the Provincial carol service held at the Penistone Parish Church, near to her home. Susan is now hoping to acquire a car through the Motability scheme that can be driven from her wheelchair, thereby further increasing her independence and mobility.

To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding will make grants available up to £250,000 to non-masonic causes in its area

The Province was invited by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, to become involved in the Diamond Jubilee. As the Province covers three Lord Lieutenancies, making grants that covered the entire vicinity was seen as an appropriate manner in which to mark the occasion.

Called the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Masonic Grants, £100,000 will be allocated to major grants and the rest will be for minor grants under £5,000. Provincial Grand Master John Clayton said, ‘It is fitting that an organisation such as the Freemasons, which instils a moral and ethical approach to life, should mark the occasion by making available these grants. In the past 25 years, the Province has given over £2.5m to support local non-masonic causes.’

Applications for grants, from recognised organisations, must have the support of a lodge or chapter in the Province.

Britannia Lodge, No. 139, in Yorkshire, West Riding, has marked its 250th anniversary with a £10,000 donation to the city’s only hospice, St Luke’s

Lodge Master Roger Farris, pictured above at the lodge’s anniversary celebrations, declared, ‘One of the principal philosophies of Freemasonry is charitable work in the community and we were delighted to be able to support St Luke’s as it celebrates its 40th anniversary.’ Una Moran, director of St Luke’s fundraising, echoed Roger’s sentiments, ‘The Freemasons have been great supporters of St Luke’s and this donation is extremely important to us. It costs £700 per hour every day of the year to simply maintain the service we provide and a donation like this means so much to our work now and in the future.’

There are around 900 Freemasons in Sheffield and 26 different lodges, but Britannia Lodge, No. 139, is the city’s oldest. ‘Freemasons do a tremendous amount of good work and offer their brethren real camaraderie. I hope Britannia Lodge will celebrate its 500th anniversary,’ resolved Roger.

To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding will make available up to £250,000 in grants to non-Masonic causes within the geographical area covered by the Province. These will be called “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Masonic Grants”.

£100,000 of the total will be allocated to major grants; the rest will be for minor grants under £5,000. John Clayton, the Provincial Grand Master in announcing the decision, said “It is fitting that an organisation such as the Freemasons, which instils a moral and ethical approach to life: and teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate and help for those in need, should mark the Diamond Jubilee of The Queen by making available these grants. In the last 25 years the Province has given over £2.5M to support local non-Masonic causes”.

Applications for grants, from recognised organisations, must have the support of a Lodge or Chapter in the Province, and will normally be for capital projects or to purchase equipment.  Eligibility for grants will be in line with the existing rules, consequently, applications will not be considered for revenue projects or to sponsor individuals.

Certificates to mark the Diamond Jubilee will be presented to recipients of the grants at an event to be held at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on 20 June 2012, where the major grants will be announced and awarded. It is hoped the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid M Roscoe will be present, or represented.