Overmonnow is a Community Primary School situated in the historic market town of Monmouth, known as the Gateway to Wales. Around 400 children attend the school, and in addition to the primary school buildings, there is a nursery and Special Resource Base (SRB).
Recently, the SRB was the beneficiary of a £4,000 grant from the Monmouthshire Masonic Trust Fund established by Freemasons in the Province of Monmouthshire during the late 1990s to benefit local people and organisations. The Masonic Province of Monmouthshire comprises 11 masonic centres and 29 lodges that meet throughout an area roughly equating to the old county of Gwent.
The money was donated to the registered charity supporting the Base, called ‘Meeting the Needs’. The Charity was formed in 1999 to specifically support the pupils of Overmonnow Special Resource Base and enable them to access funding that may not otherwise be available.
Pupils in the Special Resource Base have complex additional learning needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Severe Learning Difficulties, and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulties. The Special Resource Base offers an environment appropriate to the needs of the pupils, who require a different approach to their learning and the use of specialist approaches.
Many pupils benefit from the provision of specialist equipment and resources to support their access to the curriculum and enhance their learning and development.
Monmouthshire Freemasons Richard Beavan and Huw Williams recently visited the Special Resource Base to view the impact of the £4,000 grant. The Base used the money to purchase a large touchscreen plasma TV and additional supporting materials to enhance the learning experiences of the twenty-two Monmouthshire pupils attending the Special Resource Base.
The pupils, who have complex additional learning needs, are already making excellent use of the new equipment, which is prominent in one of the classrooms.
The visitors thanked the headteacher, Mrs Child, and Special Resource Base Leader, Mrs Whittington, for hosting the visit. They left confident that the Freemasons of Monmouthshire would be delighted to hear that the grant has been put to such good use and look forward to supporting this and other such worthy causes in local communities.
Freemasonry provides a structure for members to come together under the common goals of Integrity, Friendship, Respect and Charity, enabling people to make new friendships, develop themselves and make valuable contributions to charitable causes. Freemasons are one of the largest charitable givers in the country.
For more information on Monmouthshire Freemasons, please visit their website.
