£5k for Disability Peterborough

Another local charity has benefited from the work of Freemasons in Peterborough, which together with a ‘matching grant’ from the scheme run by the Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Freemasons resulted in a donation of £5,000.

Disability Peterborough was the nominated “Charity of the Year” for The Fitzwilliam Lodge by its Master in 2017/18 Justin Beaumont, who came across the charity whilst working with Peterborough City Council and felt it a worthy cause. A sum of just over £2,500 was raised locally, with Lodge Charity Steward, Alastair Solomonsz then successfully applying to the Freemasons Provincial Scheme, which by adding a top up grant, brought the total amount to £5,000.

The purpose of the charity is to provide a range of services that assist people with physical disabilities to achieve their potential and have maximum choice and control over their lives. The information and help they provide can enable anyone living in Peterborough with a disability to gain the freedom and support they are entitled to.

They also hold a Legal Services Quality Mark for disability case work, and have dealt with in excess of 250,000 enquiries on a variety of topics such as social care, aids and equipment, access, discrimination, legal matters and transport. The service is independently appraised and rated in the top 3 disability organisations in the country for gaining client outcomes.

The grant will enable them to continue providing services such as increasing the selfdetermination, independence and choice of people with disabilities, assisting disabled people to access their rights, challenging discriminatory practice, and ensuring that the voice of people with disabilities is heard.

At the cheque presentation held recently at the Peterborough Masonic Centre, Ellindon, Bryan Tyler and Nikki Griffiths from Disability Peterborough met the current Fitzwilliam Lodge Master, Brian Downes, and were also given a tour of the Lodge Room by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Burton. Bryan later commented on behalf of the charity, saying: “We must say a big thank you to you and your colleagues at Ellindon for making us feel so welcome. It was a fascinating and extremely interesting visit and the donation from the Lodge was very much appreciated”. If you want to know more about Freemasonry in Peterborough, please visit www. northants-huntsmasons.org. uk or call the Peterborough Masonic Centre at Ellindon on 01733 331948. Pictured: Brian Downes, David Burton, Nikki Griffiths, Justin Beaumont and Bryan Tyler.