The Freemasons' Grand Charity

MAJOR GRANTS APPROVED BY THE GENERAL MEETING
OF THE GRAND CHARITY IN MARCH 2006

£217,000 of support for non-Masonic charities was approved at the Annual General Meeting of the Grand Charity in March 2006. The grants will help charities working with disabled and vulnerable people.

Home-Start UK - £105,000

A grant of £105,000 payable in equal instalments over three years to assist in setting up a regional network in north-east England and new schemes in Durham and Northumberland. Home-Start UK provides parent-to-parent support and practical help to families with babies and young children through 335 local volunteer schemes across the country.

Friends of the Elderly - £30,000

A grant of £30,000 payable in equal instalments over two years to help support a day care centre in Malvern for older people with dementia. Friends of the Elderly provides residential care for the elderly and runs 17 care and nursing homes, as well as a home support service and day care centres for isolated older people and community services for those with dementia.

Counsel and Care - £30,000

A grant of £30,000 payable in equal annual instalments over two years to help establish an independent advocacy service for older people. Counsel and Care supports older people with an information and advice service and produce comprehensive reports and fact sheets on many relevant issues. The charity also runs a telephone helpline assisting about 10,000 older people each year.

DISABILITY

The Children's Trust

A grant of £52,000 to fund a ceiling-mounted hoist and tracking system in two residential units for severely disabled children. The Children's Trust provides short and long term care, special education and therapeutic programmes for children who have profound learning and physical disabilities and complex health needs.

Approved by the General Meeting of The Grand Charity in March 2006