At the start of the lockdown in March 2020, Florence Nightingale Hospice was put in a terrible position. Patients within the hospice were unable to have visitors. A time when their family and friends longed to be with them in the final days of life to offer support and comfort and also to say those hard goodbyes.
The Lodges in the Aylesbury area have always been close supporters of the charity and Buckinghamshire Freemasons generally is a true advocate of all they do.
A call-out to some of the local lodges to see if they could assist in raising money to enable a fast procurement of tablet computers to enable each patient to be allocated one for the term of their stay to have 24/7 contact with friends and family.
As you would expect, the lodges contacted stepped-up to the plate and monies raised quickly to enable 8 tablets and cases to be obtained. These are:
> Haddenham Lodge 8944
> Haddenham Mark Lodge 1629
> Vale Lodge 6632
> Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge 2420
> Ferdinand de Rothschild Chapter 2420
> Entente Cordiale Lodge 9490
The hospice has waited for months to be able to invite a representative along to make the presentation and was only able to do so recently when restrictions lifted and they had changed their own guidelines for non relatives / friends to attend.
They are so very thankful for this initiative we assisted with so quickly and Buckinghamshire Freemasons for the continued support given to them.
Here is the Charity Steward of Haddenham Lodge presenting the Tablets (which had been quarantined purposely for this) to two of the staff:
> Tracey Batt - Day Hospice Team Leader
> Heather Wilkinson – Healthcare Assistant
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As their continued drive to assist their local communities and those in need during these unprecedented times, Buckinghamshire Freemasons contacted the foodbanks which serve the Slough, Marlow, Beaconsfield, Aylesbury and Milton Keynes areas to ascertain which food stuffs are in the greatest demand for Buckinghamshire families and individuals who are facing financial pressures.
Thank you to everyone who donated more than 12.5k Easter eggs to our hospital and community staff!
Calling all available hands, Bicester Vision & Bicester Chamber are in support of Salute the NHS and need all free hands. Please read the following message:
Beaconsfield Masonic Centre was once again the venue for 40 young carers
On 8th September Beaconsfield committee for Freemasonry in the Community treasurer Andy Barr of Frederick Lawson Lodge arranged for 12 young train enthusiasts suffering with autism plus their carers/parents to take a trip on a vintage train on the London Underground between Amersham and Harrow on the Hill and return.
Buckinghamshire Freemasons were proud to support the Armed Forces day on a blisteringly hot day at Wycombe Air Park on the 29th of June.
18 Young Carers aged 6-10 years old were treated to a visit to Odds Farm at Burnham, Bucks, on 17th April for an Easter treat by the Beaconsfield Committee for Freemasonry in the Community kindly sponsored by the Beaconsfield Masonic Ladies Club, we also provided an Easter egg for each of the youngsters as an extra treat.
Lisa Kelly a Young Carers Coordinator at High Wycombe thanked the committee on behalf of the children for what she described as a day they would not forget
Carers Bucks is a registered charity and part of the Princess Royal Trust for Carers Network; it supports unpaid family carers across Buckinghamshire offering information, support and advice. They currently support 7000 of the 43000 family carers in Buckinghamshire.
See www.carersbucks.org for more information.
Beaconsfield Committee member W Bro Rob Knock of Hall Barn Lodge and his wife Frances representing the Beaconsfield Ladies Club present Easter eggs to the very excited and appreciative children.