Berkshire Masons help a Reading Charity to make activity bags for children with learning difficulties

Berkshire Freemasons, using funds from the Masonic Charitable Foundation the National Charity of Freemasons, gave a donation of £1,200 to Reading Mencap to help them with issues they are facing due to the Covid crisis closing all their clubs and ME support services. 

This was one grant of over ten we have made since the start of the Coronavirus situation in late March 2020.  In total, we have given over £25,000 to local Charites who are helping the elderly, inform and vulnerable throughout Berkshire.  In addition to these grants, we have given some 25 tablets to local care homes and hospices to enable their patients speak with their loved ones. The restrictions due to the pandemic caused Reading Mencap to close all its ME facilities and social clubs. This closure has made some of their users highly anxious and afraid as they do not fully understand the current problems and that they must stay at home.  To help overcome this, the charity is making up activity packs for over 80 people and the grant of £1,200 will help support this. These packs contain such items as puzzles, jigsaws and physical exercises and challenges are sent fortnightly to all users

Marie-Claire Dillion, Fundraising Manger Reading Mencap said:” We will be using the grant to continue delivering activity packs to 84 people with learning disabilities in Reading over the coming weeks. Delivering these packs to people’s doorsteps and stopping to chat is so important right now, because they are still unable to access their usual group activities at Reading Mencap due to social distancing regulations and their health issues. We are helping people to stay occupied and positive, so their mental health doesn’t suffer. It is vital that families know we are still here to support them even though our centre is closed.”