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August - Asian Flood
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The Freemasons' Grand Charity – October 2007

Freemasons approve another £440,000 for national charities

A General Meeting of The Freemasons' Grand Charity has approved grants totalling £445,200. Fifteen non-Masonic charities supporting vulnerable people, youth opportunities and research into medical conditions will benefit from the money.

The hundreds of Freemasons attending the meeting in Cardiff also heard how over £650,000 has been given over a three-month period to help distressed Masons and their dependants, as part of The Grand Charity's ongoing support for the Masonic Community.

Summary of Grants approved in October 2007

Medical Research

• Leukaemia Research - £56,500

• The Healing Foundation - £30,200

Vulnerable People

• The Place2Be - £75,000 over three years

• BIBIC - £30,000

• Listening Books - £30,000 over two years

• Aidis Trust - £20,000 over two years

• SeeAbility - £15,000

• The Challenging Behaviour Foundation - £12,000

Youth Opportunities

• Marine Society and Sea Cadets - £47,000

• Voice for the Child in Care - £40,000

• Phoenix Futures - £30,000

• Childhood First - £25,000

• Happy Days Children's Charity - £24,500

Religious Buildings

• Guildford Cathedral's West Window Appeal - £5,000

• St Woolos Cathedral's Rescue Appeal - £5,000

Purpose of Grants

MEDICAL RESEARCH

LEUKAEMIA RESEARCH FUND (£56,000)

To fund research at the University of Kent into acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) to develop a new technique of radioimmunotherapy for treating patients. AML is an aggressive cancer affecting nearly 2,000 people in the UK each year. The project will prepare for a clinical trial enabling cancer cells to be targeted more effectively.

THE HEALING FOUNDATION (£30,200)

To fund research into Dupuytren's Disease at Imperial College , London . Dupuytren's disease is a condition affecting older people whereby the fingers curl up to the palm, causing loss of function.

VULNERABLE PEOPLE

THE PLACE2BE (£75,000 over three years)

A grant to fund a new service at six primary schools in Burnley and the publication of an information leaflet. The Place2Be helps disadvantaged young children to cope with the problems caused by abuse, parental drug and alcohol problems, domestic violence and bullying by providing a therapist and counselling service within primary schools in deprived areas.

BIBIC (£30,000)

To fund an upgrade of the IT equipment for staff. BIBIC treats children with neurological disorders at special clinics providing a multi-disciplinary team of therapists and medical staff to assess and design therapeutic treatment programmes for parents to deliver at home to help improve the quality of life for disabled children and their families.

LISTENING BOOKS (£30,000 over two years)

To fund the Digital Book project converting the cassette audiobook library for disabled people into digital format for use on mp3, CD players and via internet streaming. Listening Books provides over 2,000 titles free of charge to more than 4,000 disabled children and adults.

AIDIS TRUST (£20,000 over two years)

To fund specialist disability-related information and communication technology training for staff and volunteers in local grass-roots disability organisations and hospices. The project will improve the use of computer and technology equipment by and for disabled people by providing advice and support on special adaptations.

THE CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR FOUNDATION (£12,000)

To part-fund a family information service. The Foundation provides evidence of how best to manage the challenging and sometimes violent or destructive behaviour of people with severe learning disabilities and supports families who are dealing with children or young people who exhibit such disruptive behaviour.

YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES

THE MARINE SOCIETY AND SEA CADETS (£47,000)

A grant to contribute towards a new training ship to be berthed in London . Each year 640 young people, many of them from deprived areas, will benefit from a six-day training voyage as sea cadets on the new vessel.

VOICE FOR THE CHILD IN CARE (£40,000)

To fund a pilot project aimed at improving access to the independent advocacy services provided by Voice for children in foster care and privately run children's homes. Many of the 60,000 children in care are currently hard to reach and are not aware of, or are unable to access, the independent services that are available to support them.

PHOENIX FUTURES (£30,000)

To part-fund a skills and employability programme for young people in residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation centres. The charity helps about 13,000 people each year and runs six adult residential services for over 700 people providing a therapeutic community recovery programme and support in moving into education, training or employment.

CHILDHOOD FIRST (£25,000)

To fund a support package for young people leaving a Childhood First residential care home, providing training for independent living and ongoing support for 12 months after the young people leave. The charity runs five residential facilities for children who cannot be placed through the normal care system due to severe emotional or behavioural disturbance.

HAPPY DAYS CHILDREN'S CHARITY (£24,500)

To fund day trips for children with special needs from disadvantaged backgrounds. The charity provides holidays or outings for over 12,000 children with special needs each year.

RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS

GUILDFORD CATHEDRAL (£5,000)

A grant to Guildford Cathedral for the West Window Appeal.

ST. WOOLOS CATHEDRAL (£5,000)

A grant to St. Woolos Cathedral, Newport for the Rescue Appeal.

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