East Lancashire Freemasons raise £200k for worthy causes

[Sir.Mike]

FREEMASONS have raised £200,000 for worthwhile causes in East
Lancashire in just two years.

Theatre groups in Blackburn and Rossendale, an Accrington junior
football club and a special school are a few of the many organizations
to have benefited from the generosity of some 7,500 local Freemasons.

The East Lancashire Masonic Charity (ELMC), which combines the fund-
raising efforts of 15 districts across the area, formed a special
community fund in 2006 in response to an appeal from national Grand
Master, the Duke of Kent.

Since then the ELMC has raised £200,000 for the fund and actively
helped hundreds of people, with a particular focus on supporting young
people.

Derek Thornhill, assistant provincial grand master for the Accrington
and Blackburn districts and chairman of the community fund, said: “The
money is raised from within the lodges, and they donate it to the
community fund.

"Blackburn district was quite pioneering, we started raising money for
the community about nine years ago but it became more focused after
the Duke of Kent’s address.”

District charity steward David Lightbown said: “Every year we normally
donate to around 22 charities and causes, and primarily we try to
support youngsters.”

“The Masons donate the largest amount of money to good causes after
the Lottery. It’s a huge part of what we do.”

Some of the ELMC’s latest project are an £8,000 grant to Thwaites
Empire Theatre Trust in Blackburn, to fund a children’s panto, and a
£9,000 grant for Rossendale Theatre Workshop to fund a theatre
activities week.

Other beneficiaries over the past 18 months include: an £6,500 new
sensory garden for Newfield Special School in Blackburn; a Rossendale
volunteer group which transports sick children to and from hospital; a
£750 grant for Clayton Park Rangers Junior FC; £500 to East Lancs
Scout Council; £1,000 to support a CRY (cardiac risk in the young)
screening in Blackburn and Darwen; £2,000 for Burnley and District
Talking Newspaper for the Blind; £500 to Colne First Aid Services;
£5,000 for a play area at Hargreaves House respite centre in
Oswaldtwistle.