HAT-TRICK OF CHARITIES BENEFIT
FROM WARRINGTON OSM No 119 DONATIONS
 
At Warrington Conclaves No119 - Proclamation Ceremony at the start of October three cheques to the value of £600 were presented to the principal guest for donating to local charities.
 
Following the meeting; three brethren from the order with ties to the local charities then made arrangements to visit the charities to present each of them with a cheque for £200 which will help in enabling them to carry on the very important and worthwhile work that they do for their community.
 
ST ROCCOS HOSPICE
Relying on donations and fundraising to generate the £4.5 million per year that is needed in order to continue to provide care to those who need it; St Rocco’s Hospice has been a regular recipient of charitable donations from Warrington Freemasons and in particular the Warrington Conclave No119, “So we hope that this further donation will help in some way towards the annual running costs”?
 
The Hospice wants everyone in our community diagnosed with a life-limiting disease, to live well and towards the end of their life have a dignified death in a place of their choice and masonic donations make a real difference to its patients and families when they need it most.
Volunteering also makes a real difference to the running of the hospice and last year over 782,000 hours were given by volunteers enabling the hospice to save over £1m through the support they provide.
 
One of these volunteers was the wife of a conclave member and this helped the conclave committee to decide which of the many worthy & deserving causes they should support this year.
Joan & Bob Williams taking in the Conclave cheque
 
TALKING NEWSPAPER
Mike Hamilton & Jim Walker
Since 1977, the Talking Newspaper has been recording articles from the Guardian for visually impaired readers.
 
The ninety-minute Talking Newspaper is recorded on memory sticks by a group of volunteer readers every Thursday afternoon at Warrington Library in time to catch the 6.30pm post.
 
Listeners then play the news on a special Boom-Box stereo over the weekend and post the stick back in time for next week’s recording.
 
Some listeners also choose to receive recordings of the Woman’s Weekly magazine as well as the Sunday People on their memory stick. Many of the listeners are people who have read books and magazines avidly all of their lives… the oldest recipient is 104 years young.”
 
An example of the impact of the newspaper comes from Hazel Ashley who began going blind in her late teens due to a chemical imbalance in her eyes and who has been receiving the Talking Newspaper for 15 years as she said:
“I really look forward to it coming through the post - it’s quite a lifeline”
 
WALTON LEA PARTNERSHIP
Brian Potter with Walton Lea Partnership
The Walton Lea Partnership (a none-profit organisation & registered charity) is certainly a very busy place!
 
They provide work experience and learning for people with learning difficulties in a beautiful Victorian walled garden near Warrington.
 
Their aim is to improve the self-esteem and status of adults with learning difficulties and help them to play a full part in the local community.”
 
Following his visit, Conclave Secretary Brian Potter states: “The conclaves cheque is certainly going to benefit the charities on-going project’s and it was a pleasure to view first-hand their achievements.”
 
They have a small shop on-site that is open for the sale of their own home grown produce, plants, woodwork, and crafts; and with the garden in mind, it’s highly recommended that you plan a visit to view their up-cycled garden furniture, bird feeders & bird boxes thus helping to continue the support that this worthy charity deserves.
 
The above donations from the Warrington Conclave No119 help to show how they and The Order of the Secret Monitor in particular wish to support the prime principles of freemasonry by continuing to support marginalised or disadvantaged people in our society.
 
Story and photo's courtesy of Bob Williams P.P.G.G.
Warrington Conclave No119
Provincial Visitor