The Covid-19 lockdown and subsequent restrictions have seen increased numbers of domestic abuse across the country. In the first four weeks of lockdown in the UK, 16 women and girls were killed in suspected domestic homicides — more than triple the number from the same period in 2019 and In December combined call and web chat volumes for sexual violence helplines were over 200% above the pre pandemic baseline.
As Nicola Nicola Davies the Fundraising & Communications Manager for RISE, the Brighton based charity charity that supports people affected by domestic abuse and violence, notes ‘The last few months have been the most challenging in our charity’s history – we have coped with a sharp increase in the demand for our services at a time when major fundraising events have been cancelled’.
Recognising those additional pressures; and the increase in demand for services; the Sussex Masonic Charitable Foundation CIO has supported the charity with a grant of almost £10,000.
Foundation Chairman Michael Harris said “The work that RISE does in providing support during a time of personal crisis is ever more vital during these difficult times and I’m delighted that Sussex Freemasons are able to actively support their important work”.
Commenting on the grant Nicola said ‘RISE would like to wholeheartedly thank Sussex Freemasons for such a generous donation, which will be spent on our essential work helping people rebuild their lives after domestic abuse’.
RISE volunteers wearing t-shirts with slogans that domestic abuse survivors came up with to illustrate the support they received from RISE.
tablets to assist RNLI crew members at Eastbourne with online training.
Freemasons throughout England came together in 2020 to challenge Covid and support their communities. Donating £1Million, as well as their time, to help those in need.
Freemasons also worked 18 million hours as volunteers in a range of different areas, where there was a need, including driving vulnerable people to hospital, preparing meals, taking care of people at risk, organising care packages, producing scrubs, PPE and hand sanitiser.
In Sussex, Freemasons provided wide ranging and much needed support to charities across the counties to enable them to continue their work during the pandemic. These included:
Supplying 50 Samsung Galaxy Android Tablets to hospices in East and West Sussex to help Covid patients stay in touch with their families.
Helping fund CPR machines for Chichester and Worthing Hospitals
Providing mobile phones to support remote working in the NHS, £30,000 to directly support NHS staff working in the major hospitals across the county (St Richards in Chichester, Worthing Hospital, the Royal Sussex County in Brighton, the Princess Royal in Haywards Heath, the Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in Hastings) and PPE to a wide range of charities and hospices.
Supporting the work of Domestic Violence charities
Providing £28,000 cash support to food banks in Brighton and Hove City Mission, Portslade, Burgess Hill, Horsham, Crawley, East Grinstead, Worthing, Littlehampton, Chichester, Rye, Bexhill, Battle, Seaford and Newhaven.
Supplying a four wheel drive car to St Wilfrids ‘Hospice at Home’ team to help their team of Rehabilitation Assistants, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to reach patients in outlying areas.
Christopher Moore, Head of Sussex Freemasons said “I am very proud of the way in which Sussex Freemasons have come together to support our communities in so many different ways, from sourcing and producing PPE to providing and delivering hot food to those in crisis and supporting those who are vulnerable”
In addition to the £1m donated in 2020, the Freemasons have committed a further fund of £2.1m to support the ongoing Covid-19 crisis response. Of that £2.1m, £850,000 has been allocated to support homeless people through several charities with which UGLE partners. More than 40,000 homeless individuals are being provided with food and essentials, transport, help with accessing services such as counselling and healthcare, as well as employment and training opportunities.
Dr David Staples, chief executive of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE), said “Our response to the Pandemic shows what Freemasonry is all about; supporting those in need, giving back to our communities and volunteering where it can make a real difference. Freemasons have been doing this for over 300 years and I am proud of the time and commitment that our members have given to support the nation in its fight against Covid-19.”
It is open to people from all walks of life, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic position in society.
There’s no complicated method to becoming a Freemason. Simply get in touch with us by completing the enquiry form at the bottom of this page, or by emailing membership@sussexmasons.org.uk directly, and we will contact you. That’s it.
We will put you in touch with a Lodge in your area, or one of our specialist Lodges that matches your particular interest. The members of the Lodge will then make arrangements to meet with you, probably in a relaxed social environment, to talk with you about Freemasonry.
You like what the Lodge has told you and they in turn think that you’re a good fit for their particular Lodge; arrangements are made to initiate you into Freemasonry, joining over 200,000 other Freemasons in England, Wales and overseas Districts. Sorry to disappoint, but most of the rumours about the initiation ceremony are untrue.
Freemasonry is open to people from all walks of life, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation or socio-economic position in society.
For many, Freemasonry is about making new friends and acquaintances. For others, it’s about being able to help deserving causes and charities. It’s a unique institution with a truly global membership.
Sussex Freemasons support those in need in our Sussex communities, from food banks to Scout groups, from dementia care to hospice support.
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