A Brighouse charity that supports the homeless, the elderly, the vulnerable, refugees and survivors of domestic abuse has been able to purchase a new mini-bus, thanks to the Freemasons.
A grant of £30,000 helped Focus4Hope purchase a 16-seater minibus with wheelchair access to replace ‘Hope’, its previous mini-bus, which due to its age had become increasingly unreliable.
The funding, provided by the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding, via its Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, will allow Focus4Hope to continue provided valuable services to vulnerable people in the local community.
Each year, this fund gives grants of circa £200,000, which help a wide variety of organisations across the Province, including schools, hospices, youth organisations, sports clubs and hospitals
Whilst minor grants of up to £5,000 are awarded on a monthly basis, the major grants are given each Spring and announced ahead of the Province’s annual meeting held each May.
Focus4Hope
Founded in 2016 as a community-based group of friends who wanted to develop ways of collectively making a difference in the region, Focus4Hope seeks to provide support for the many disadvantaged groups in West Yorkshire.
It predominantly works with the elderly, the homeless, those who are fleeing domestic violence and isolated or lonely individuals in need of support.
It also operates a food bank in Brighouse, which delivers dozens of food parcels each week to people throughout the community.
Statements
The Freemasons Provincial Grand Master, James Newman, OBE, said:
'Charitable giving to support those in need is at the very heart of Freemasonry and I am delighted that we have been able to support Focus4Hope by helping them purchase this new minibus.
This is a charity that does so much in the Kirklees area and without a new vehicle their vital work would have been severely hampered.
All the money that is raised for the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, which funded this minibus, comes directly from our members and their families.
Thanks to their continued generosity, we have been able to support Focus4Hope with this financial donation.'
Based on the old West Riding, the Province, which has around 5,000 members meets in some 180 Lodges and reaches from Sheffield in the South to Ripon in the North, Goole in the East to Bentham in the West.
Further information about the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding is available from its website.
Further information about Focus4Hope is available from its website.
