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Lifelites is the charity that gives life-limited and disabled children using hospice services the chance to play, be creative, control something for themselves and communicate, through the magic of assistive technology. The charity has recently received a donation of £2,000 from Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons to assist with the supply of assistive technology. Simone Enefer-Doy of Lifelites said, "Lifelites is delighted to have received a donation from the Freemasons. Their recognition of Lifelites’ work and its donation allow us to continue donating assistive technology for life-limited and disabled children using Rainbows children's hospice. It is only thanks to our supporters that Lifelites can donate magical technology that makes the impossible, possible enabling these children to communicate, play, and control something for themselves. We are incredibly grateful.” Thanks to the Lifelites technologies, care is no longer restricted to hospice buildings. Hospice staff can reach out via video calls to families and children in their own homes with our iPads. The iPads, Eyegaze and other entertainments and communications technology are so portable too, so whenever they are able to visit the children at home, hospice staff can take it with them. Now children can enjoy the sights and sounds in a world of make believe safe in a haven of light-weight and easily transported PODs. Peter Kinder, the head of Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons said, “We are a long standing supporter of the wonderful work the Lifelites team do, and the joy they bring to children who are facing life limiting challenges.” Pictured: Noah, using a specially adapted Lifelites iPad.

The Freemasons are encouraging its 200,000 members to roll up their sleeves and volunteer to help vaccinate the population. To help protect all UK citizens during this difficult time, the Freemasons have also offered their lodges to administer the vital jabs and many buildings are being used as Covid-19 vaccination centres. In Hertfordshire, for example, Halsey Hall is being used as a vaccination centre and supporting three local GP surgeries. The centre has been operational since 15 January and once fully scaled, there will be up to 1,000 vaccinations given each day at the centre. NHS frontline staff members are also administering the jabs at the Freemasons building in Essex. Meanwhile, Freemasons in south Wales are opening the doors of Barry Masonic Hall to local medical practices to help in the mass vaccination against Covid-19, from 21 January. Two halls are also being used as vaccination centres in west Kent. At the Westwood Masonic Centre in Welling, more than 2,000 people were vaccinated on 9-10 January 2021, while the Tunbridge Wells Masonic Centre opened its doors for vaccinations on 14 January. In addition, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), the governing body for Freemasonry in England and Wales, is encouraging Freemasons to donate their time and efforts to help fight the virus. It also emphasised that those volunteering should not participate if they are in an at-risk group. Freemason Alec Hurley is a retired RAF senior medical officer and a self-employed medical examiner for the Civil Aviation Authority. During these difficult times, he is back on duty working 12-hour shifts three times a week for clinical Covid-19 assessment, and as a clinical supervisor at the Stevenage super hub for vaccinations. In many provinces, Freemasons are volunteering to help. In Devonshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, and Wiltshire they are assisting at vaccination sites, while in Dorset they are driving ambulances and working as volunteer vaccinators. More than 100 Freemasons from Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire have volunteered with St John’s Ambulance to help the NHS Covid-19 vaccination team. St John’s Ambulance is providing full training for the volunteers, while the Freemasons have made their buildings available to the St John’s logistics team. Meanwhile, in Cheshire, Freemasons are working with the Clinical Commissioning Group to provide the local Masonic Hall as a major vaccination hub to protect patients. The UGLE campaign is being carried out through its monthly email to members and official social media channels. The idea is to reach as members as possible, to encourage them to help immunise the population. Dr David Staples, chief executive of the UGLE, said: “In 2018, more than 18.5 million hours of volunteer work were undertaken by Freemasons. Now that we have the vaccine in the UK, it is crucial that we help in every way we can to protect the population. If the NHS needs people, then we are happy to encourage and emphasise the importance of this to our members. “We want to support the NHS and show our gratitude for its people’s efforts and the amazing job they have done during the pandemic. Freemasons always stand behind our core values of friendship, integrity, charity and respect – and we are proud to help so many people.” According to the NHS, more than six million people had received a vaccine by 28 January. Britain has ordered 140 million vaccine doses – enough to protect the entire population. But the NHS faces a race against time to protect everyone before a possible new wave. More than ever, efforts to vaccinate those most at risk from serious illness are now paramount, and there is a need to ensure that the NHS has as many volunteers as possible. To help the NHS in the vaccination campaign, volunteers should sign up at: https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk Volunteers will then receive an email with login details to sign up online and be asked to download the GoodSAM app, which will match the person to their area. Pictured: Hertford Masonic Centre

The St Matthews Big Local Leicester charity has been giving support to local communities who need it most. Since the start of the pandemic Food Banks across the county and the country have seen increased pressure to provide essential items. The Freemasons have supported St Matthews Big Local on many occasions, with the latest grant donation going towards ensuring the foodbanks stay fully stocked with food, toiletries, and essential items. Simon Johnson, Charity Manager of St Matthews Big Local said - "The grant from the Leicestershire Freemasons is very much appreciated. The Association has supported our organisation over the years and this latest grant will help us to continue to provide much-needed food and toiletry supplies to our emergency food bank. We have provided over 18,000 meals to those most in need in our community since the start of the pandemic and this funding will help us to continue our vital work in the coming months.” The Chairman of the Leicestershire & Rutland Masonic Charity Association, Phil Caswell said “Our members are only too willing to go the extra mile in raising money so that we can support the fantastic efforts of the St Matthews Big Local Leicester Charity.”

Two thousand children and young people with Type 1 Diabetes will receive support from an innovative new app to help manage their condition, thanks to a grant of £42,000 from Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons to the Leicester Hospitals Charity. The new mobile education app, known as DEAPP, has been developed by the Children’s Research Centre, and aims to educate patients and families through 12 creative and engaging learning sessions which can be played through a smart phone, a tablet or a PC. The app provides instant access to on-line information whenever required, without needing to wait for medical appointments. It is already in use in 28 hospitals across England and Wales, and plans are in place to roll it out to every hospital in England and Wales by 2022. The Freemasons’ grant will allow the app to be adapted to help patients and families from black and ethnic minorities, where English is not the main language spoken, or for families of patients with learning disabilities. This will be achieved by adding additional modules and components to DEAPP to help provide relevant information to these patients and their families, ensuring that all children diagnosed can have equal access to high-quality education about Type 1 Diabetes as they begin their lifelong management of the condition. The aim is to translate the app into Welsh, Somali, Punjabi and Urdu. Beyond that, DEAPP will be developed to focus on resources for over-16s, specifically in terms of health and wellbeing, dealing with mental health, risk taking behaviour and how this impacts on a young person’s diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes which can cause serious health challenges as it is 4.5 times more likely for these young children to experience heart failure and 3.5 times more likely to experience stroke later in life. Around 33,000 children under 19 are living with Type 1 Diabetes in the UK, with 3,000 children diagnosed each year. This is growing at an alarming rate of 4 per cent a year, particularly with children under the age of five. There are currently 375 children aged 0–16, in Leicestershire & Rutland, with Type 1 Diabetes, along with 15 children with Type 2 Diabetes. Approximately 85 per cent of people diagnosed have no family history of the condition, and it is a major priority to educate families as well as children in Leicester Hospitals Charity. The grant from Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales. Lisa Davies at Leicester Hospitals Charity said: “We’re very grateful for the generous grant from Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons which is making a big difference to the care of children being treated for Type 1 Diabetes in Leicester’s Hospitals. It’s clear that in future it’ll make a huge contribution to the lives of these children and their families.” Peter Kinder from Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons said: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help Leicester Hospitals Charity with their hugely important work. There are 48 thousand people, of all ages with diabetes in Leicestershire alone and we’re delighted that all children diagnosed can use this app to obtain high-quality education about Type 1 Diabetes as they begin their lifelong management of the condition.”

The Provincial Grand Master, Peter Kinder, led his team of Provincial Officers to attend the monthly zoom of Sparkenhoe Lodge No.8063 in Hinckley. This was not just a routine visit, but one to celebrate and present a certificate for 50 years of service to Freemasonry to Ken Pegg. After the usual Lodge business, the Provincial Grand Master led the presentation to Ken, as he recalled stories of his past, including the now-famous phrase coined by Ken of calling his father, also a Freemason, “Worshipful Brother m'Dad”. Peter then handed over proceedings to the Provincial Grand Secretary Paul Wallace to read through the certificate, after which Ken took to the microphone to extend his thanks and gratitude to the entire team of nearly ninety Freemasons for making this such a special occasion. Of course, at the moment it is not possible to meet, however when such time allows the Lodge to meet in person again, the actual certificate will be presented to Ken. The meeting ended after nearly an hour of enjoyment, with some members choosing to continue the conversation for as long as they could. Zoom has been such a superb way for Lodge members to keep in touch with each other, whilst it can not replace the warmth of in-person meetings, without it, members would have struggled in the times of isolation until such time as we can meet again.

Paul Simpson of St. Wilfrid’s Lodge No.8350 who is also the secretary of local cycling club, Kibworth Easy Riders, has helped to put smiles on the faces of seventy children this Christmas, all thanks to the overwhelming response of club members and the general public to its Christmas Recycled Cycles appeal. The concept was simple, to appeal for donations of unwanted bicycles that were in reasonable condition but sitting unused in garages and sheds across the Harborough District. The skills of the clubs' members would then be put to the test in cleaning them and making them roadworthy, before gifting them as Christmas presents to children who otherwise wouldn’t be able to own their own bike. The appeal was the brainchild of Keith Low and Sarah Young who, back at the start of November, when restrictions meant only riding bikes in pairs, were enjoying a break outside the village stores in Great Easton, mulled over ideas about what the club could do within its local communities – the Christmas Recycled Cycles idea was born. Their original vision was to generate enough interest to have 10-15 bikes to give away as presents – in the end, they collected over one hundred bikes, from balance bikes for toddlers to bikes for teenagers and every size in between! Many members of the club then gave their time, skills and expertise to get them ready for Christmas. Just six weeks after the idea was sparked, the Easy Riders have now delivered seventy bikes across South Leicestershire. “We know that 2020 has been a year when many have taken up cycling, but realise that for some it’s just not possible to do so, because bikes cost money that they simply don’t have. Who knows, the youngsters who’ve been gifted bikes this Christmas might get the cycling bug and be future members of our club,” said Sarah. Pictured left to right: Keith Low, Paul Simpson of St. Wilfrid's Lodge, Sarah Young, and some of the bikes gifted to youngsters this Christmas.

Earlier in 2020, members of St. Wilfrid's Lodge in Market Harborough donated £700 to support the local catering firm who lost their income from the closed hall due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although there is light at the end of the tunnel, it has still been a long period for small businesses to go without income. St. Wilfrid's Lodge has again been active in raising funds to support Rival Catering, by donating a generous £1,030 made up from members putting their hands in their own pockets to raise the money, and also a donation of £120 from St. Peter's Royal Arch Chapter who also meet in Market Harorough. This amazing amount was double through the generosity of one member, John Townsend who made the donation up to a staggering £2,060. The team in charge of Rival immediately responded " We do not really know what to say, other than a massive thank you - a very generous amount and will go a long way with us. Anyway, please pass our appreciation onto all the lodge members that donated its very kind of you to think of us and continue to support us. We look forward to seeing you in the new year - fingers crossed”

Cyril Staley of Burbach Lodge No.8699 in Hinckley, celebrated his 100th birthday on the 4th January this year. All the Lodge members have been congratulating Cyril on reaching this wonderful milestone and becoming the first Burbach member to do so. Cyril was initiated into the Lodge at the "young" age of 91. His son Martin, a Past Master and currently Director of Ceremonies, took the chair to welcome Cyril into Freemasonry throughout a warm and moving evening nearly nine years ago. The birthday photograph, taken outside the house which Cyril built in the 1960s, shows Martin presenting to his father, on behalf of the Lodge Members, a card and cheque as a present to mark the occasion. As with most other milestones in the current circumstances, celebrations to mark this wonderful day have had to be put on hold, but no doubt his family and friends will all raise a glass to Cyril. Happy birthday Cyril!

When the Loughborough Hoard of Masonic artefacts were discovered behind a panel in the storeroom at Loughborough Masonic Hall in September 2017, they were found to contain many handwritten lectures by Frederick Fleeman, who had been Master of Howe and Charnwood Lodge, No.1007, in 1916, Founder and Primus Master of Beacon Lodge, No.5208, in 1930 and Master of The Lodge of Research, No.2429, in 1940. The earliest paper was written in 1911 and delivered to the Howe and Charnwood Lodge of Instruction in February 1911 and the last was his Inaugural Address to the Lodge of Research just three months before his death. Many of these papers had never been printed; indeed the 1939 History of Howe and Charnwood Lodge was only known to have existed from the Lodge Minute Book. Similarly, his paper on the Rancliffe Lodge, No.608, which is a development of the chapter in his 1919 book on Freemasonry in Loughborough, was not known to have been written. (His 1919 book, The History of Freemasonry in Loughborough is not included, although the final proofs were among the artefacts.) The e-book, which can be accessed via the Lodge of Research, No.2429 website, brings together all the known papers he wrote and include some fascinating facts. His histories of the early days of Freemasonry in Loughborough are of great interest, including a reference which shows a direct family link between one member of the Craft, a previous Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire, and H. M. Queen Elizabeth ll. David Sharpe, Editor Transactions of the Lodge of Research, No.2429, has now brought together all the known papers that Fleeman wrote for the first time in ‘The Fleeman Papers’ which can be read online at the page dedicated to the Fleeman papers on the Lodge of Research No.2429 website. Picture: Frederick Fleeman

Having donated £1m between April and July to help those impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, Freemasons are now focusing on protecting the homeless, with a new series of donations across England and Wales. The homeless crisis has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, with many people losing their jobs and finding themselves either living on the streets or in unsuitable living conditions. In 2019 Shelter estimated that 280,000 people were homeless in England whilst the Greater London Authority reported 4,227 people sleeping rough in London between April and June, of which 2,680 were sleeping on the streets for the first time. The funds raised will help provide safe living conditions, healthcare, meals, and employment opportunities for the homeless; as well as helping protect them from the winter weather, which kills hundreds of homeless people every year. In addition, Freemasons will be volunteering their time at 26 homeless support organisations. Freemasons will be providing the following support to homeless people across the country: More than 40,000 homeless people will be provided with essentials, transport and support, as well as help accessing services such as counselling, healthcare and benefits; Almost 197,000 meals will be provided to homeless people; Approximately 600 people are being given employment and training opportunities; Nearly 1,400 individuals are being provided with accommodation and support. Dr David Staples, chief executive of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), said: “We are expecting a harsh winter this year and so it’s essential to protect and support the homeless. Hundreds die every year on our streets during the winter, which is a shocking statistic, and due to the pandemic, many vulnerable people have found themselves on the streets for the first time. “In this second phase of donations, following our initial contributions during the Covid-19 crisis, we have donated the largest part of the funding towards helping the homeless. We hope this will provide those in need with somewhere safe to stay during winter but also offer them more long term help to get off the streets and into secure accommodation.” Among the organisations being prioritised by UGLE, the governing body for Freemasons in England and Wales, are local arms of homeless charity Emmaus. The money is being distributed to Emmaus centres located in Surrey, Yorkshire, Kent, Oxford, Bedfordshire, Lancashire, Hampshire, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Middlesex. In London, Freemasons are supporting Only a Pavement Away – a charity, which provides employment for the homeless, ex-offenders and veterans into careers within the hospitality industry. The donation will fund courses in the charity's life skills programme for homeless people, which will help them to live independently and sustainably. The Freemasons’ donations will also fund an in-home starter kit containing a cookery book, a cooking utensils starter park, and an essential ingredients box. This is in addition to the provision of key kitchen equipment including a cooker, microwave and fridge. Participants will continue to be supported by the charity after the course finishes with access to the Employment Pathway Support service In Wales, Brenda Fogg started Hope Restored back in 2010 in order to distribute food and blankets to the homeless community, having been homeless herself for a time. The Freemasons are now supporting the project to help make the lives of the homeless that little bit more bearable. Ms Brenda Fogg said: “Each and every person who comes through our doors is met with a smile and a warm welcome. Our relaxed friendly atmosphere provides a welcome respite from the harsh realities of their lives, if only for a few hours. I want to thank the Freemasons for their generous support.” For the last few years, Freemasons in Northumberland have donated both their time and Christmas gifts, to the residents of homeless veterans’ charity Launchpad and will visit the charity on 23 December to deliver fresh fruit and Christmas presents. These initiatives are just the start of phase two of the Freemasons’ donations, and in January, UGLE will announce the next round of donation packages and charitable initiatives.

Freemasons Hall in Leicester usually caters for many of the counties nearly three thousand Masons most days of the week and is also home to Devonshire Place, one of the city’s leading venues for weddings and event hire. With the continued lockdown in the city, the large kitchens have remained closed, with food stocks being wound down where possible. With uncertainty around when Freemasons Hall will reopen, rather than dispose of the food, the team decided to put the ample stocks of ingredients to good use, by baking a huge batch of biscuits, 1,572 in total. Each biscuit was carefully prepared by the Head Chef Greg Prangnell and packaged into gift bags complete with tag. Ninety of the gift bags were donated and delivered to Leicester residents who suffer from Motor Neurone Disease, with the remaining one hundred and seventy-two gift bags being donated to residents of the Devonshire Court Care Home in Oadby. Peter Kinder, head of the Freemasons in Leicestershire & Rutland said, “Throughout the year, Freemasons have been finding ingenious ways of helping the local community, such as manufacturing PPE, delivering meals, and donating money. I must thank Nicola Holyoake and the team for putting our kitchens to further good use and bringing a smile to people’s faces in the run-up to Christmas”.

A local Freemasons’ University Lodge in Leicester has generously donated the ingredients needed to make a vegetarian curry with rice to 500 University of Leicester students during the COVID-19 pandemic, In conjunction with the University of Leicester Students' Union, the unique ‘Recipe In A Bag’ has been distributed to those students hit hardest with the lockdown restrictions. These bags include individually portioned rice, chickpeas, tomatoes, potatoes, coconut milk, and chili. The lodge also teamed up with Wigston News & Deli to provide the spice mix and the recipe which is included in each of the bags. The head of the Wyggeston Lodge, Alex Pohl said: “Kindness and charitable giving are deeply ingrained within the principles of Freemasonry. We are very mindful that students at the university have not been able to enjoy their university life to the full because of the coronavirus pandemic.” Alex continues: “Recipe boxes via subscription have really boomed in recent years particularly during 2020. As a small token, we’re delighted to put our own version of these recipe bags for students in self-catered accommodation so they can make and enjoy a tasty meal whilst in lockdown.” Andy Green, who is also a member of the lodge who devised and co-ordinated the recipe bags said: “I’m very proud of the Freemasons who have come together to help create this initiative and deliver food to the student community in Leicester during the COVID-19 pandemic.”