CHARITIES in Berkshire are set to receive millions of pounds of donations between them over the next six years following a fundraising drive by Berkshire Freemasons.
Berkshire’s Provincial Grand Lodge has announced that it has raised more than £2 million from members during its latest five-year charity festival.
Members were set a target of £1.9m in the five-year period, but managed to exceed the aim, reaching a total of £2,268,541 through localised and team fundraising ventures.
Though the last few donations are still being processed, some of the funding has already begun making its way to charities in Berkshire.
While funds are centrally distributed by the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) all across the UK, if a particular area is in Festival, the MCF also concentrates more of the funds back into that area.
In the next six years, leading up to Berkshire’s next fundraising festival, it is expected a total of £3 million will be routed into Berkshire and its charities.
Among them is the Roald Dahl Charity, which received a grant of £60,000 to support its efforts helping children and young people with serious illnesses and complex or life-long conditions.
The funding will see a specialist Roald Dahl nurse installed at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Hannah Gerrard has taken on the role, specialising in caring for children and young people aged between 14-25 with epilepsy and other complex conditions.
Hannah’s role will focus on supporting those transitioning from children’s to adult services, which often provides a significant traumatic change.
Louise Griew, chief executive at Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, said: “We’re very grateful to Berkshire Freemasons for their generous grant which has helped to fund this vital new post.
“Too many seriously ill children and young people experiencing epilepsy and other very serious conditions don’t have access to a nurse specialist.
“Ensuring young people in Berkshire receive the specialist and personalised care and support they need is crucial and will provide a vital lifeline to hundreds of children and families.”
Another of those benefiting from grants is Parents and Children Together (PACT), which saw just under £30,000 of funding awarded by Berkshire Freemasons.
The grant will go on to provide help and support for at least 70 adopted children with complex needs from across the south of England.
The charity will use the funding to provide links between schools and the families of adopted children, as well as review school policy, raise awareness, and inform teacher training to better integrate support in the school system.
Natausha van Vliet, PACT’s chief executive, said:
“We’re very grateful to Berkshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will help at least 70 adopted children and their families through what are so often hugely difficult experiences at school.
The work with families and schools can do an enormous amount to make a vulnerable child feel safe and secure and start to enjoy their learning.”
Anthony Howlett-Bolton, the leader of Berkshire Freemasonry, said: “When the Festival was launched five years ago, I announced a target of £1.9 million.
“No one could have foreseen a worldwide pandemic coming just around the corner. All fundraising activities were cancelled from April 2020, along with the suspension of Masonic meetings- the Festival became a bigger challenge than we had expected.
“Berkshire, this special Province, has an excellent record of achievement in previous festivals.
“To reach our goal of £1.9 million we had to take a different approach to the business of raising money and encouraging donations from every source possible, making sure we had fun and enjoyment on the way.”
