Fantastic support from the Masonic Charitable Foundation

10.7.2023

We were so grateful to the Masonic Charitable Foundation for their support over the next 2 years.

We were delighted when we heard that the Charity Grants Committee and the Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons had approved a grant of £54,229.00 in support of our Whirlow LIFE (Learning In a Farming Environment) programmes.  Spread over 2 years, this hugely generous grant means that the provision of services for scores of children and young adults in need of help - almost 20% of our alternative provision in fact -  is now secure until 2025.  The Masonic Charitable Foundation's long-term view in this instance, funding multiple years, means that we don't have to worry about that part of what we do for now - we can concentrate on raising funds to support the rest of our programmes.

So it was a pleasure to welcome James Newman OBE of the Freemasons to the Farm on the 4th July so he could see for himself what the funding would enable.  In a week of biblical downpours and thunderstorms he got his timing just right - and had a lovely couple of hours walking the Farm with friend and Trustee Martin McKervey, meeting the Education team, seeing the students in action and taking a look at our new facilities.  Head of Education John Gray explained just how much the MCF's grant would help before James spent time with the some of the young adults feeding the cade lambs down at the Old Hen House.  Then it was onto the Gateway Kitchen for nibbles prepared by some of the other youngsters - falafel, samosas, dips and rhubarb muffins.  As ever, the food was excellent - there's no doubt some of the youngsters could have a future in catering!

So a huge thank you to James, the MCF and the Yorkshire West Riding Freemasons for their incredibly generous and forward-leaning support.  It will make an enormous difference to the Trust over the next 2 years and ensure that disadvantaged youngsters from the City region and beyond get the help they need.