Bispham with Norbreck Lodge of Mark Master Masons 866 Charity Giving |
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Submitted by W.Bro. Peter Robinson: |
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| As the IPM of Bispham with Norbreck Mark Lodge 866 along with Len Hackett this year’s WM, Ronald Weatherill our lodge charity steward, Colin Moxley and John Shrewsbury I visited the HQ of the charity The Ormerod Trust in St Annes to present them with a cheque for £1600 enabling them to purchase a multi-function chair for their dementia unit. We were honoured and delighted to have the presence of our R.W. PGM. Bro. Peter Connolly and his wife Lynne finding time in their very busy schedule to join us for the presentation. We were met by Sue Sharples the CEO and Edwina Briggs the Ops manager. I was wearing 2 hats! One as the IPM and the other as a Trustee of the Ormerod Trust. My daughter Helen who is 38 has Down’s syndrome and has been supported by Ormerod for the past 9 years! |
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Peter and Lynne were astonished at the size of the charity and the scale of the work they do in providing housing with living support for children and adults with special learning difficulties not only in St Annes but throughout the Fylde. They have houses in Fleetwood, Cleveleys, Poulton le Fylde and St Annes supporting 110 people in residences, as well as supporting many more in their family home. They also hold two children’s centres - one in St Anne’s on a Saturday and in Fleetwood on a Sunday at which respite is offered and support given to the whole family. Photograph right Sue Sharples & Peter Connolly |
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| Special needs people are often tarred with the same brush of having the same needs and capabilities and our group were astounded by the range of activities and achievements done by the clients with the guidance of the charity. Sue Sharples the CEO told us of a recent play had just been performed by the clients in the open air at Lytham Hall, several clients hold part time jobs in the area The clients make chutney and preserves which they sell at the farmers market in St Annes 1st Thurs in the month and all involved have to attain a MVQ to take part. | |
| Relying on local support for fund raising the Trust are keen to give back to the community and are supported by the local councils to collect all tin cans from the recycling bins in town. These are sorted and flattened by our clients and sold to make funds for the charity and saving the council the cost of collection. Some of our workers have very little mobility but to see the smile on their face as they work as a team giving them dignity and satisfaction. We also have an allotment where the clients grow fruit and veg not only for their own use but, get this, to give away to less fortunate people unable to afford such things! We also have 2 football teams who play in a league for disabled players at the YMCA in Lytham. We win more games than we lose. | |
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Our PGM and party then went to see the dementia unit where the chair that we donated is to be used. Sue Sharples explained that several of the clients have Down’s syndrome and sufferers are 6 time more susceptible to suffer from dementia than you or I. It usually occurs in their late forties and survival time is quite short. It meant that when a client had dementia they would have to be removed from their home into hospital and I am sure you can imagine the confusion and upset that did cause. As the age of our clients is growing it was decided by the Trustees to build a dementia unit the cost of which was raised by the Trust mainly through charitable events and fund raising. The unit opened the end of 2009 and the third person has now had the benefit of the facilities seeing out their days in the care of the Trust with friends around them Things we take for granted. Photograph left Len Hackett, Sue Sharples, Peter Connolly & Ronald Weatherill. |
Our PGM Peter Connolly believes this charity which covers the length of our group deserves more Mark Mason’s support. The Trust is hoping to buy a second hand mini bus to help with the football teams and the newly formed ramblers club. About £8000 is needed so if any Mark Lodge would like to support the Ormerod please get in touch with me via Bispham with Norbreck M.M.M. Lodge 866. Alternatively, any Lodge ‘ring-fencing’ their charitable donation with V.W.Bro. Michael Clarke [APrGM & Chairman of Charities] or W.Bro. Brian Molyneux [Prov.Ch.Stwd] for “Ormerod” will have it enhanced by the Province. Photograph right Peter Connolly & Peter Robinson with the chair donated by the lodge. |
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Photograph left: The Ormerod Rockers
Article and Photographs by W.Bro. Peter Robinson IPM |
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This archive article courtesy of Chris Furmston |
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