The Mark Province of Essex recently supported the Charity “Clowns in the Sky” with a donation from the Essex Mark Welfare Fund.
The Charity provides crafting and play facilities to children hospitalised and undergoing treatment for brain tumours; along with giving support grants to their families. The Charity also provides arts and craft materials contained within sensory trolleys to hospital wards across the UK, and, locally, in helping Romford, Basildon, Southend and Colchester hospitals. The Charity also supports research into brain tumour disease.
After a request from a member of the Province, the Essex Mark Welfare Fund donated an initial sum of £750, specifically to sponsor the placing of a new activity trolley at the Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford and to restock it during the first year. The Trustees of the Essex Mark Welfare Fund were so impressed by the dedication of this Charity and all of its wonderful supporters, all who give so much of their time to run it; that they were delighted to be able to offer the support, especially as it was a local hospital and children who will benefit.
After learning more about the Charity’s work, a funding request was made by our Province to the Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF) for further support. This application was successful and the MBF sanctioned a further grant of £29,600 to support the Charity allowing it to cover the cost of re-stocking the trolleys in all the supported hospitals throughout the UK for an entire year.
The Charity provides crafting and play facilities to children hospitalised and undergoing treatment for brain tumours; along with giving support grants to their families. The Charity also provides arts and craft materials contained within sensory trolleys to hospital wards across the UK, and, locally, in helping Romford, Basildon, Southend and Colchester hospitals. The Charity also supports research into brain tumour disease.
After a request from a member of the Province, the Essex Mark Welfare Fund donated an initial sum of £750, specifically to sponsor the placing of a new activity trolley at the Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford and to restock it during the first year. The Trustees of the Essex Mark Welfare Fund were so impressed by the dedication of this Charity and all of its wonderful supporters, all who give so much of their time to run it; that they were delighted to be able to offer the support, especially as it was a local hospital and children who will benefit.
After learning more about the Charity’s work, a funding request was made by our Province to the Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF) for further support. This application was successful and the MBF sanctioned a further grant of £29,600 to support the Charity allowing it to cover the cost of re-stocking the trolleys in all the supported hospitals throughout the UK for an entire year.
Pictured here is the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. John Finlay (left) together with the Provincial Grand Almoner W.Bro. Roy Kaye (right) visiting Broomfield Hospital where they met the Founders of the Charity along with some of the the nursing staff from the children’s ward. Cheques were presented on behalf of the Essex Mark Welfare Fund and the Mark Benevolent Fund to much gratitude from the Charity's Founders and its Development Officer Donna Byrne.
Unknown to the Province, Donna Byrne had also nominated The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Essex
for a Pride of Essex Award.
Our Provincial Grand Almoner, Roy Kaye, was invited to attend the virtual presentation evening held on Tuesday, 17th of November, 2021, and was delighted and enormously proud when the Province was announced as a winner. The Province was honoured with a highly commended “Team of Pride Award”.
Said Roy, “As Masons, we don’t seek recognition or reward for our work, but we are enormously humbled and proud that we were nominated and recognised for all the work that our members do and for the generous amounts of money they gladly donate to support those in need. The occasional pat on the back is always appreciated!”.
The Mark Province of Essex continues to support local charities and welcomes applications from all members of the Province.
For more information, visit our website at www.essexmark.co.uk and The Mark Benevolent Fund at Mark Benevolent Fund
Below is an extract from the video of the virtual event.
Unknown to the Province, Donna Byrne had also nominated The Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Essex
for a Pride of Essex Award.
Our Provincial Grand Almoner, Roy Kaye, was invited to attend the virtual presentation evening held on Tuesday, 17th of November, 2021, and was delighted and enormously proud when the Province was announced as a winner. The Province was honoured with a highly commended “Team of Pride Award”.
Said Roy, “As Masons, we don’t seek recognition or reward for our work, but we are enormously humbled and proud that we were nominated and recognised for all the work that our members do and for the generous amounts of money they gladly donate to support those in need. The occasional pat on the back is always appreciated!”.
The Mark Province of Essex continues to support local charities and welcomes applications from all members of the Province.
For more information, visit our website at www.essexmark.co.uk and The Mark Benevolent Fund at Mark Benevolent Fund
Below is an extract from the video of the virtual event.
Posted on 19 November 2021