Freemasons Grand Charity

 

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Information Release 24 June 2011

Sixteen major grants have been announced by The Freemasons' Grand Charity, awarded to worthwhile projects and causes in the areas of medical research, youth opportunities and support for vulnerable people.

MEDICAL RESEARCH:

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: £50,000
To fund a research project at the University of Manchester, developing Corneal confocal Microscopy for Human Diabetic Neuropathy led by Professor Rayaz Malik. Peripheral diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of type 1 diabetes. www.jdrf.org.uk

Wellbeing of Women: £36,000
To fund a research project at Leeds University, led by Dr Nichlas Orsi, investigating the role of a network of molecules known as eicosanoids in womb cancer. The incidence of womb cancer has doubled in the past ten years and 7,500 women are diagnosed in the UK each year. www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk

SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE PEOPLE:

Aidis Trust: £10,000
£10,000 for Aidis Trust to help fund a computer helpline for disabled people. The national technical support helpline advises over 1,000 disabled people on appropriate assistive technology and helps with computer problems. The project will also train twenty young unemployed IT professionals as volunteers on the helpline. www.aidis.org

Bliss: £20,000
To fund specialist counselling for parents of premature and sick babies. 120 counsellors across the UK from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy will participate following a successful pilot funded by the Department of Health. www.bliss.org.uk

CSV: £28,000
To fund the development of Café G in Southmead, Bristol. The project will provide catering training to a wide range of disadvantaged young people, as well as spreading the 'healthy eating' message. www.csv.org.uk

Dystonia Society: £19,000
To fund the production of new information publications. Dystonia is an incurable movement disorder that causes uncontrollable muscle spasms and affects 70,000 people in the UK. The new publications, both print and online, will enable people to research specific symptoms. www.dystonia.org.uk

Happy Day's: £10,000
£10,000 has been donated to fund activities for children with special needs. The charity provides day trips and outings for disadvantaged children and the grant will fund day trips for approximately 500 children with special needs, together with their carers. www.happydayscharity.org

Marie Curie Cancer Care: £117,000
Payable over three years to Marie Curie Cancer Care to fund two Marie Curie nurses in Kent. Last year 2,000 Marie Curie nurses cared for 23,400 people with cancer and other terminal illnesses, generally working at night for 8-9 hours. There are 21 nurses in Kent and the cost of all Marie Curie services in Kent per year is around £520,000.www.mariecurie.org.uk

Peter le Marchant Trust: £10,000
To contribute to the salary of a skipper of a canal boat. The charity provides trips and holidays on a canal boat for disabled people and has 780 passengers each year, many of whom are repeat visitors. www.peterlemarchanttrust.co.uk

Red Balloon Learner Centre Group: £25,000
To fund training for staff at centres for severely bullied children. The charity provides intensive education and care for severely bullied children who are unable to attend mainstream secondary school. www.redballoonlearner.co.uk

Spinal Injuries Association: £29,000
Grant payable over three years to the Spinal Injuries Associati on to fund the salary of a peer advice manager. 40,000 people in the UK have a spinal injury. The peer advice service operates in ten NHS Spinal injury centres and is run by people who are themselves in wheelchairs. The charity supports 600 newly injured people each year, plus 144 people in employment clinics.www.spinal.co.uk

St Dunstans: £50,000
To fund the extension of the North Wales Medical Centre. The Charity supports blind ex-service personnel. It cares for 3,000 individuals and had 550 new beneficiaries last year. The grant will go towards a training flat for newly blinded people and the facilities are mainly used for rehabilitation and training. www.st-dunstans.org.uk/

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES:

Catch 22: £35,000
This grant is helping to fund a vocational skills centre in North Kent, which is set up as a fully equipped motor garage. The centre has been running for 14 years and has helped 1,000 young people. Catch 22 (formerly Rainer) supports 34,000 disadvantaged young people in 100 projects across the country. www.catch-22.org.uk

Farms for City Children: £12,000
Payable over three years, this grant is to fund farm holidays for 120 inner city children. Each week, 116 disadvantaged children aged between eight and fourteen stay on a farm. The experience helps to build self confidence and communication skills as well as learning about food production. www.farmsforcitychildren.org

Future Talent: £14,000
To help fund a bursary scheme to assist talented musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds. The charity provides instruments, private lessons and courses for children aged 5-18 using means tested bursaries and offers scholarships for older children. www.futuretalent.org

RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS:

St Botolph's: £5,000
A contribution towards a major restoration programme for the Tower of the Boston Stump. It is the largest parish church in the country and is visited by 50,000 people each year. www.parish-of-boston.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 • Approved by United Grand Lodge of England •