The Oxfordshire Masonic Charity (OMC) is the Provincial fund, administered by the Trustees, which supports Freemasons, charities and good causes in the county of Oxfordshire. The committee met in December and approved grants of £17,000 to the following organisations:
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service: £2,000 for core support
https://alexanderdevine.org/
We provide essential support to families of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across Berkshire and the surrounding counties.
Blood Bikes SERV – Oxfordshire: £2,500 for core upport
https://serv-obn.org.uk/
During normal working hours, the blood transfusion service provide their own transportation to move Blood, Plasma, Tissue Samples, Documentation and other vital supplies to where they are needed. Outside of working hours this service is not available to the hospitals, this is where the blood bike volunteers come in.
Without the Blood Bikes, if urgent medical supplies were required hospitals and care homes etc. would have to rely upon Private Hire Taxi Companies, Couriers and in exceptional circumstances, Emergency Services.
SERV-OBN provide an out of hours service which not only saves a substantial amount of money, but money that can be passed on to provide more appropriate frontline patient care such as nurses and equipment.
Although bikers and sometimes car drivers are providing the actual transport of blood there are other critical roles in SERV OBN. The charity also needs Controllers take the calls from hospitals, then reach out to the volunteers to see who can deliver. Like all charities fundraisers pay a vital part in keeping the bikes on the road.
Thames Valley Air Ambulance at RAF Benson: £6,000 for core support
https://www.tvairambulance.org.uk/
Minutes matter with major trauma incidents. We can be anywhere in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire within 15 minutes by helicopter.
Our Airbus H135 can reach speeds of 160mph and land in an area the size of two tennis courts. Our helicopter is fully equipped and optimised for night operations, with the crew using the latest night-vision goggles.
We have one helicopter and four critical care response vehicles, enabling us to reach ill and injured people, wherever and whenever we are needed. All our vehicles are fitted with the same advanced medical equipment.
Guideposts:’ vulnerable families project: £2,000 for Christmas Gift Boxes
https://guideposts.org.uk/
Guideposts is a charity that supports people living with long term conditions, disability, or caring responsibilities to improve their mental health and wellbeing and feel included in their local communities.
Set up in 1972 in Witney, Oxfordshire, we provide in person services across Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire alongside virtual services which allow people to connect anywhere. We also run a support line which offers information, support and signposting.
Oxfordshire Age UK: £2,000 for core support
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/
We’re a local independent charity working in the community to support older people, their families and carers. We want everyone to be able to love later life.
Yellow Submarine: £1,000 for core support
https://www.yellowsubmarine.org.uk/
Yellow Submarine runs a variety of projects across Oxfordshire for young people with mild or moderate learning disabilities and autism, and provides workplace training in two cafés.
Hill End: £1,000 for core support
https://hill-end.org/
Hill End has been offering unique outdoor learning experiences since the 1920s: a multi-use site, providing a diverse range of outdoor activities and facilities to schools and organised groups. These include quality outdoor educational sessions for all ages, self-catering residential buildings, meeting and classroom spaces, camping, teacher and adult training, alternative education provision, volunteering opportunities and family events.
Superbly located just four miles from the ‘dreaming spires’ of Oxford, our 67 acres of tranquil and beautiful surroundings are a world away from urban life. A visit to Hill End offers visitors the opportunity to be closer to nature, with the space and time to explore and appreciate the wonders of the natural environment.
Our Vision is to build on the rich heritage of the centre by providing a unique space and opportunities for high-quality and inspirational outdoor learning to a diverse range of young people.
Witney Buttercross Scout Group: £500 for core support
We all know the great work that scout leaders do to challenge the young to get out of their comfort zones.
By 2023 Scouting UK has a vision to have prepared more young people with skills for life, supported by amazing leaders delivering an inspiring programme.
Scouting UK seeks to grow and be more inclusive, shaped by young people and making a bigger impact in our communities.
Other Work
In 2020, we donated £49,700 in total from our own funds and was able to allocate a further £20,000 via the MCF. The OMC is always keen to receive requests for funding support so please contact me to discuss.
Meanwhile, the Province submitted a number of applications as part of the MCF Covid Fund, the most recent phase of which was allocating money to support homelessness in the UK. A magnificent £57,000 has been allocated to Emmaus Oxford who are leading the drive to eliminate homelessness in the UK.
All these great projects are supported from your donations; they really do make a difference to many people: thank you!
W Bro Andrew Keech PPrGSwdB
Provincial Grand Charity Steward