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HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE
31 Great Queen Street
London wc2b 5ag
T: 020 7405 2644
Fax: 020 7831 4094
Email: info@rmtgb.org
Web site: www.rmtgb.org
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Royal Visit
On 3 October the Royal Masonic Trust
for Girls and Boys (RMTGB) hosted a
reception to celebrate 80 years since their
offices were built in Great Queen Street
in which the Guest of honour was HRH
The Duke of Kent.
Case Almoner Training
In December 2005, Clive Andrews,
Chief Executive of the RMTGB,
announced to Grand Lodge that a
programme of Case Almoner training
would be implemented.
The success of the Trust depends
enormously on its 900 volunteer Case
Almoners, who are the local Masonic
contacts between the Trust and the families
it supports.
The first training session took place at the
Trust’s offices at 31 Great Queen Street on
12 October. The programme for the day
focussed on the Trust’s processes, the role
of the Case Almoner in relation to the work
of the Trust and gave those who attended
the opportunity to share their experiences
with other Case Almoners.
The feedback received confirmed that
the day had been a success and the exchange
of ideas and information between Case
Almoners proved to be useful.
This is the first of a number of training
sessions planned for various venues across
England and Wales over the next 12 months.
If you are a Case Almoner and are interested
in attending a training day, please contact
Gill Bennett, Senior Case Adviser, at the
Trust. Her e-mail address is
gbennett@rmtgb.org.
The Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Kent
and RMTGB President Andrew Stebbings,
celebrate 80 years of the Trust
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HELPING WITH FINANCIAL NEED
60 Great Queen Street
London wc2b 5az
T: 020 7395 9261
Fax: 020 7395 9295
Email: info@the-grand-charity.org
Web site: www.grandcharity.org
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Masonic Relief Grants
Did you know that almost since the start
of organised Freemasonry in the early 18th
century, nearly every Lodge in England
and Wales has regularly contributed in
respect of their members to the main
Masonic charitable fund?
Today, that fund is called the Grand
Charity, which currently pays out
more in Masonic Relief Grants to
individuals than is received by way of
the Annual Contributions.
Who is eligible? Any Mason registered
with Grand Lodge (even if he has resigned,
or been excluded for non-payment of fees),
but not those expelled. Also, Masonic
dependants (including wives, partners,
divorced spouses and older children with
long-term disability) are eligible. Grants
are renewed annually and continue until
financial need ends. The Grand Charity
recently assisted a widow whose husband
died 60 years ago.
The Masonic Relief Grant Guidelines
are used with compassion. All the income
of applicants and partners are considered,
including State Benefits. The Grand Charity
rejects applications if savings are above
£10,000 (or £15,000 for a couple), but
ignores house values.
The grant will not cover debts, nor act
as a “third party top-up” for care home fees
– but will help with funeral costs. One
Almoner visited a widow for a year before
discovering she only had a basic pension,
out of which she paid £10 per week for the
funeral. The Grand Charity covered the
funeral, gave her a Grant, and the Almoner
helped her claim additional benefits.
The Grand Charity also assists younger
families when the breadwinner is seriously ill
or disabled, until they can manage without
our help. Disability equipment can also be
provided, maintained and insured, including
stair lifts, wheelchairs and showers.
An area of concern is the poor uptake
in State Benefits (e.g., Attendance
Allowances, rent rebates), especially by the
elderly. Many could benefit from installing
water meters!
Each year the Grand Charity assists nearly
2,000 Masonic families with Grants ranging
between £300 and £4,000 at a total cost of
£2.6 million. It considers on average 183
applications each month, but is still missing
many distressed families.
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Copyright 2002-2007
MQ Magazine
Web site created by Mark Griffin
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