Cornwall Mark Foundation Charity Awards 2020

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As many of you will remember our Provincial Grand Charity Steward John Mills wrote to Lodges to-wards the end of 2019, asking for nominations from Lodges for grants to charities and worthy causes from the Cornwall Mark Foundation.

Unfortunately due to the Corona Virus the planned meeting had to be cancelled, however following discussions between the Provincial Grand Master, Trustees and Members of the Committee, we are pleased to announce that donations totalling £12,000.00 have been made to twenty four local groups, with a further £8,500.00 being granted to four local charities.

Each charity will receive £500.00

  1.  Bodmin Memory Café
  2.  11th Falmouth Church, Guides
  3.  Man Down (Mental Health for Men)
  4.  8th/9th Falmouth Scout Group
  5.  Walker Lines Gymnasium Trust
  6.  Falmouth Greenbank Rowing Club
  7.  Chy Sawel Project
  8.  Goonown Playing Field Association
  9.  Penhaligon’s Friends
  10.  St Ives Town AFC Under 11s
  11.  Curnow School Association
  12.  Hi-5 Talk Time Café
  13.  1st St Stythians Rainbows
  14.  GOFA
  15.  Telya
  16.  St Austell Youth Band
  17.  Kilkhampton Preschool
  18.  Mount Edgcumbe Hospice
  19.  Clear
  20.  Port Isaac Village Hall
  21.  Macular Society
  22.  White Gold Cornwall
  23.  Combat Stress
  24.  169 Squadron ATC (St Blazey)

 

Requests received from Two or More Lodges

 

Merlin MS Centre                                                       £2000.00

iSight Cornwall                                                            £500.00

Sowenna Unit                                                             £5000.00

Motor Neurone Association Cornwall Branch     £1000.00

“Wine at Nine”

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South West Masons Working Together
Brethren & Companions all,
Every Tuesday commencing 14th April, we would like to take
“Wine at Nine” with you all.

Click the Image below to enlarge

St Michaels Lodge No175, Supports Youth Groups in Helston

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At their September 2019 meeting, the Freemasons of St Michaels Lodge of Mark Master Masons agreed that the sum of £100 be donated to certain local charities which help and support young people in Helston.

The charities chosen were :

Mustard Seed

Girl guiding in Helston

Helston Scout Group, and

Helston Town Band  – Junior section

The WM ( John Osmond) accompanied by his Charity Steward (Barry Williams) have visited each organisation who were delighted to accept their Cheques and thanked the Lodge for their donation.

The photos below were taken at each of the presentations.

 

The Mark Benevolent Fund continues its partnership with Lifelites, with a visit to Cornwall.

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The Mark Benevolent Fund continues its partnership with Lifelites, with a visit to Cornwall.

On Monday 7th October, R.W.Bro Kevin Hicks Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Province of Cornwall along with his Assistant Provincial Grand Master Chris Hawkey, Provincial Grand Secretary Simon Trevains, Assistant Provincial Grand Secretary Trevor Conroy and their ladies, were joined by Darren Coleman-Heald, Charities Manager from the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, R.W.Bro Stephen Pearn Provincial Grand Master of the Craft Province of Cornwall, a number of his team and their ladies, to make a presentation to Children’s Hospice South West at Little Harbour, which is located in Porthpean near St Austell on the stunning south coast of Cornwall overlooking the tranquil Pentewan Valley.

Lifelites donates assistive technology to over 10,000 life-limited and disabled children in hospices across the country, and this vital funding will support a brand- new project being launched by the charity this year – the Tech Trunk. The donation of £14,144 to Little Harbour is part of a major collaboration between the Mark Benevolent Fund which has donated £141,00 and lifelites, this will enable Lifelites to carry out 15 presentations across the country to Children’s Hospices’.

The Tech Trunk is a solution for Hospice at Home services across the country that deliver palliative and respite care for children out in the community. The portable trunks enable hospice staff to take the Lifelites technology with them wherever they go, giving children the opportunity to have access to life-changing technology in their own home.

The trunks include accessible, portable technology such as a Virtual Reality Headset, specialist iPads, games consoles and an Eyegaze, which enables children to use a computer just with the movement of their eyes. All of this technology gives these children the opportunity to play, be creative, control something for themselves and communicate, for as long as it is possible.

This funding has also enabled Lifelites to donate to Little Harbour Interactive Entertainment Hubs and a Mobile Magic Carpet (so well demonstrated by our Provincial Grand Masters of the Mark and Craft playing football ), and other technology. The project also provides vital training for children’s hospice staff on how to use it as well as ongoing technical support.

In an article in the latest edition of Freemasonry today, Simone Enefer-Doy, Chief Executive of Lifelites, said: ‘Our small team works tirelessly to raise the funds we so desperately need, and to have this unbelievably generous gift from the Mark Benevolent Fund is a complete game-changer for Lifelites. It will help us provide technology to thousands of children across the country, children who don’t have the same opportunities that we do. Every moment is precious, and thanks to this donation we can help these children and their families make the most of every second.’

We were joined at Little harbour for the presentation by Darren Coleman-Heald, Charities Manager from the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, said: ‘We are delighted to have joined forces with Lifelites in this all-important project that reaches deep in to the heart of your community giving enjoyment and stimulation to life-limited and disabled children. ‘Our 36,000 members will be pleased to know that their donations are being used wisely by helping those in need across the UK.’

More information on the Mark Benevolent Fund project with Lifelites can be found in the latest edition of freemasonry today

https://www.freemasonrytoday.com/freemasonry-cares/lifelites/mark-master-masons-donate-141-000-to-lifelites

 

 

 

The Mark Benevolent Fund Supports Sowenna

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MBF Presentation to Sowenna

 

Following the recent opening of Sowenna a mental health unit for young people 18 years and under, Right Worshipful Brother Kevin Hicks, Provincial Grand Master was delighted to accompany V.W.Bro. John Bell a trustee of the Mark Benevolent fund on a visit to the unit at Bodmin.

Sowenna is an NHS unit run by Cornwall NHS Foundation Trust. The unit provides inpatient treatment for young people aged between 13 and 18.

The unit has 14 rooms which are all en-suite, consultation rooms, a gym and classrooms – with everything from music rooms to cooking areas – alongside the café and open garden areas. The whole unit is ultra-modern, bright and airy, without the feel usually associated with a hospital, also included in this impressive development is an impressive sports barn which will also be able to host theatrical events.

Most of the young people who are admitted to Sowenna come from Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, although some come from further afield.

The Donation of £8000.00 from the Mark Benevolent Fund will be used to equip a sensory treatment facility which will use the latest technology in assisting with the recovery of those using the unit.

Pictured outside of Sowenna is R.W.Bro. Kevin Hicks Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall, V.W.Bro. John Bell Trustee of the Mark Benevolent Fund, W. Bro. Chris Hawkey Assistant Provincial Grand Master and Dr Barbara Vann CEO.

National Association of Blood Bikes

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On behalf of the Mark Benevolent Fund, R W Bro Kevin Hicks The Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Cornwall, was delighted to handover the keys for the latest addition to the Cornwall Blood Bikes fleet at a presentation held at Falmouth on Friday.

The donation to Cornwall Blood Bikes, is part of the partnership with the National Association of Blood Bikes which has seen donations made by the Mark Benevolent Fund to twenty six Blood Bike Groups nationally totalling £437,934.

The funding for this partnership came from the Royal Parks walk which took place in May 2017.

CMF Supports St Austell Town Youth Band

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Helen Rowe, Treasurer of St. Austell Town Youth Band receiving a cheque to the value of £400 from Philip Snell, representing St Austell Lodge of Mark Masons. The donation came from the Cornwall Mark Foundation, which has, with the support of the Mark Brethren of Lodges in Cornwall, made awards totalling £7600 to deserving causes  and is in addition to £100 generously given to the band from the St Austell Lodge previously.

St Austell Town Youth Band is the only youth brass band in the St Austell area and gives concerts as an independent ensemble whilst being financially supported by the

Senior Band. Many Youth members are also members of the Cornwall Youth Brass Band. Both bands are based at The Band Club, East Hill,

 

St. Austell and both bands welcome new or returning players and players who may have recently moved to the area. You’ll see them representing St Austell at the West of England Bandsmen’s festival at Bugle on 16th June; the Youth Band in their own section and the Senior Band in The Championship Section. The bands are also to be seen supporting local events such as Feast Week in Mevagissey 24-30th June 2018 and lead many of the summer carnivals occurring throughout Cornwall. For further information on rehearsal times and up coming concerts, please refer to the band website www.staustelltownband.co.uk or contact us via our Facebook page.

 

Cornwall Mark Masons Donate to Children’s Sailing Trurst

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W. Bro. Peter Johns, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, was delighted to present on behalf of the Cornwall Mark Foundation, a cheque for £400.00 to Mr. Richard Nathan, Co-Chairman of the Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust.
The Trusts aim is to boost the confidence of both abled bodied and disabled children in a wide range of water actives including “wild swimming”, paddle boarding, rowing and sailing both in the Helford River and in a nearby recently purchased lake with fully qualified instructors and safety boats in attendance.

Cornwall Mark Masons Make Donation to BATS

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Pictured (R-L) Most Worshipful Pro Grand
Master Raymond John Smith, Right Worshipful Brother Kevin John Hicks, Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall,(presenting a cheque for £400 on behalf of the Brethren of Cornwall), Mrs Sue Hicks,
Gerald Bianchi (Treasurer of BATS, – Blind at Sea)
and Mrs Ann Smith

Cornwall’s Sailing Club for Visually Impaired People

Blind at Sea (BATS) provides water related activities for visually impaired people.

Many blind and visually impaired people are denied the opportunity to fully participate in all Cornwall has to offer. Blind at Sea, founded 30 years ago by a keen group of visually impaired sailors, now offers sailing, gig rowing and fishing to our members.

BATS is based at Mylor Yacht Harbour at the entrance to the beautiful, tranquil Mylor Creek where, our own yacht, a Sadler 25, is kept on a harbour mooring. This spring we are taking ownership of a new yacht, Lucienne. She is a Westerly Konsort and with more room and speed, she will allow us to sail longer distances and has the potential for some overnight stays!

Blind at Sea‘s activities are made possible by volunteers, some who provide their own boats for sailing and fishing, skipper our own yacht, act as help-buddies and drivers to assist VI (visually impaired) members, or to help crew the boats. Gig rowing takes place under the guidance of the excellent coxes from Nankersey Gig Club.

Merlin MS Centre receive £43,791. from MBF

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It’s always great to receive an update on the difference donations have made, many of you will recall the presentation made to the Merlin MS Centre via the Mark Benevolent Fund of £43,791.00 to provide a fully equipped easy access minibus and sensory equipment for a treatment room at the Centre.

The attached letter has been received from staff at the Merlin Centre and highlights the positive impact that donations from Brethren have made to service users at the centre.

Link to Letter from Kevin Hicks from Merlins MS Centre