The Burwood House Trust and Ruspini House Trust, both subsidiary funds of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, have recently launched a new scheme that aims to provide further support towards the accommodation needs of young people at a time when financial assistance from other agencies is very limited.

The two funds will assist the children or grandchildren of Freemasons through the provision of means-tested grants of up to £3,000 which can be used towards accommodation costs.

The new scheme will accept applications to assist:

• students studying a postgraduate qualification highly beneficial for their careers; or
• recent graduates who wish to undertake unpaid/expenses-only internships/work experience; or
• undergraduate/postgraduate students who need to undertake research away from their usual place of residence.

In exceptional circumstances the Trust may consider helping children where a Freemason, who is not a relative, has provided financial support for the child. Freemasons must also be members under the UGLE constitution.

To discuss the scheme, or to make an application, please contact Kerry Whitford on 020 7405 2644. 

We were delighted to receive a message from Sergeant Philip Finch of the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, he said:

Like many soldiers, I will be deploying with the Armed Forces for 6 months in 2009. In order to help the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys and those women and men who have been wounded, I would like to raise money by completing a ‘1500 mile Running Challenge’ during my deployment. This will be done within the confines of a camp. Put in perspective, this equates to just over 2 marathons a week!”

The RMTGB would like to thank Philip for considering us as recipients and wish him well.

Mike Woodcock, the President of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys is urging all Brethren to be extremely vigilant in identifying children and families in distress. He says:

The worsening economic climate will inevitably result in some Masonic families facing hardship. When children are in distress, the Trust may be able to help or in some cases help may be available from the other central Masonic Charities.

So if you know of a case where death, desertion, illness, disability or financial need are affecting families, especially children, please let us know.

More about how we may be able to help can be found here on our website or you can contact our Petitions department.

On Friday the 17th October 2008 the Province of Lincolnshire launched the 2014 Festival in support of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB). The launch event was held at the County Assembly Rooms, Lincoln.

RW Bro Graham Ives, Provincial Grand Master, Senior Provincial Officers, representatives of the Trust and some 200 Freemasons from across the Province joined together to enjoy a number of presentations outlining the work of the charity, how it is funded and how the Province will need to work with enthusiasm and dedication to meet the target for the Festival.

W Bro. Les Hutchinson, Chief Executive of the RMTGB gave a moving presentation entitled ‘When Tragedy Strikes’ and shared details of some of the recent cases that the Trust has been able to assist.

W Bro Keith Emmerson, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Petitions Committee of the RMTGB, whose theme was ‘Relieving Poverty, Advancing Education’. Bro Emmerson explained how the Trust is a poverty charity and outlined the types of distress that could qualify a family for support.

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W Bro John Hockin, gave a rousing presentation in which he outlined the targets for the Festival and the part each Lodge and Mason in the Province would have to take to ensure the Festival was a success.

There are currently 29 beneficiaries receiving the care and protection of the RMTGB from the Province of Lincolnshire. In the last twelve months, almost £106,000 was expended on these beneficiaries alone. Over the last 5 years this expenditure increases to almost £543,000. In addition the RMTGB is supporting Choristers at Lincoln Cathedral and St James’s Parish Church, Great Grimsby.

The Province were last in Festival in 2003 when the raised a magnificent total of £2.6M toward the work of the Masonic Samaritan Fund. The original target had been £1.5M. The launch concluded with an address by the Provincial Grand Master and the RMTGB is confident that under his leadership the Brethren of the Province of Lincolnshire will be motivated to achieve success in their Festival appeal once again.