PORTCULLIS FREEMASONS LODGE NO. 6672
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Charitable Activities

Charitable Activities


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At the end of March 2022 our Lodge hadd donated over £22,389 to the Berks 2023 Festival.  We should be able to achieve Gold in the next year.

Our ME, Brother Alan Crawford, has an idea for an auction in October to raise more funds for the Berks 2023 Festival.


We achieved silver status in October 2020 with £18,000 donated to the MCF.  Despite the closure of the Lodge during the Covid crisis, our contribution through September 2021 is nearly £20,000.


PLEASE USE THE QR CODE ABOVE TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE BERKSHIRE 2023 FESTIVAL.   INSTRUCTIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THE 'STATUS' NOTE BELOW.  YOU CAN BE AWARDED THE FESTIVAL JEWEL FOR A £600 CONTRIBUTION.


​CHARITY STATUS AS OF 31 March 2022


BERKS 2023 FESTIVAL
​
  • Festival has 1 more year to run (www.berks2023.org)
  • Total raised to date is £1..45 M with target of £1.9M (per website))
  • We achieved Silver status in October 2020
  • 41 lodges have reached Bronze status, 23 Silver, and 5 Gold (latest on website but obsolete)
  • Our donations to 31 March 2022 = £22,447.  A cheque for £1000 was presented to the PGM at our September installation meeting, and raffle / alms raised over £400 on the night.
  • Our awards based on 36 members (we now have 33)
  • Need to donate £27,000 total for Gold Status (about £4600 remains to be raised)
  • A £15/month Regular Payment Promise now to December 2024 gives donor a Festival jewel award.  Only a few of our members have opted for a RPP.
  • Festival events at Sindlesham coming up – any interest in attending as a group?
  • Beer and Gin Festival 23/05/2022
  • Family Fun Day 20/08/2022
  • Zipline Challenge (in Wales – sponsorship solicited – PGCS and Provincial Executive will take the plunge in June 2022).  More info on this major event will be forthcoming. ​
  • QR code will be added to summons to allow donations in absentia
 
OTHER
 
There have been no recent requests for support of local charitable causes.  Please let your Charity Steward know if you see a need with which we might be able to help.  However, through the BMC a special wheelchair for a brother's grandchild was purchased and a donation to Children Seen and Heard for over £5000 were granted.


The Covid lockdown caused many difficulties and likely put pressure on you and your family. Please do not feel pressured to make a charitable donation. If, however, you wish to donate, you can do this in several ways:

  • Cheque or bank transfer to WB Steve Morant, our Treasurer, identified with your name and marked for Festival. Bank details are on the summons.
  • Cash into envelopes supplied at out Lodge meetings.
  • Setting up a Regular Payment Promise (standing order) – see our Charity Steward for details.
  • By using our new card reader at Lodge meetings – see our Hon Treasurer WB Morant.  You can also pay any other debits such as dining, subscriptions, etc by this method.
  • Through the new QR code set up by PGL which sends your donation directly to the MCF (see QR code pasted on this message). 
 
Digital Donations QR CODE enables simple cashless donations to Relief Chests. Members can use their own smartphones or computers to make a donation direct to their Relief Chest as part of any Masonic and non-Masonic events.
 
All Digital Donations are tracked to the Relief Chest where they are raised and gift aid can be collected.
 
How it works
  • Receive QR code & URL of specific Relief Chest
  • Scan QR code or click the unique donation URL
  • Device opens the unique donation page, assigned to a specific Relief Chest
  • Select or enter donation amount
  • Enter donor details
  • Pay by card or mobile pay
  • Confirm gift aid and done!

​

Charitable contributions 2019

In 2019 we continued to support the Masonic Charitable Foundation through the Berkshire 2023 Festival and  donated over £11,000.

We celebrated our 500th Regular Meeting in December and held a White Table Event at which brethren, wives, partners and guests enjoyed the meal and entertainment.  Generous donations of over £350 from all went to our charities, and a special collection for the entertainers' charities raised £150.  

Our June BBQ was a brilliant success thanks to WB Colin Gilbey, daughter Laura, and several St. Hilda members behind the bar.  £600 was raised for charity, divided between the Berkshire 2023 Festival and Blood Bikers (supported by Mark Master Masons).

We wish to thank the Cholsey Scouts for supplying their bouncy castle free of charge. which made the day fun for the kids.


Charitable Contributions 2018

Our IPM, WB Nick McGregor, nominated three charities for support this year, and the funds have been given to these worthy organizations.  Our WM reports as follows:

 “One of the founding principles of Freemasonry is ‘relief’ or charity.  With this in mind, the Portcullis Lodge in Wallingford has made donations totalling £4500 to three local charities to support the work that they do in our community.  
 
Didcot Train supports youth work in Didcot and has seen demand for its services grow as the town has expanded.  Portcullis’ donation will contribute to the provision of youth outreach staff to help the charity identify and assist vulnerable young people in the town.  
 
Music For Autism is the brainchild of John Lubbock who also founded the Orchestra of St Johns and was awarded an OBE in 2015 for his charitable work.  The charity provides music therapy for autistic children and was started when a John observed the positive impact music had on his own autistic son’s levels of engagement.  Portcullis’ donation will help fund sessions in a number of specialist schools in the Oxfordshire and Berkshire areas.
 
Rosie’s Rainbow Fund provides bereavement support, massage therapy and music therapy for families in the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital and throughout Berks, Bucks and Oxon.  Portcullis’ donation will help fund this essential work that touches the lives of so many local families.”

The charities have websites  as follows::  Rosies Rainbow Fund  www.rosiesrainbowfund.co.uk , Didcot Train Youth Project  www.didcottrain.org.uk, and Music For Autism  www.musicforautism.org.uk should you wish more information.

Thanks to all of our brethren and visitors to our Lodge for their generosity in making these goals come true.

Charitable Support

We donated £200 to the 2018 British Legion Poppy Appeal. 

The Lodge is supporting the MCF through donations to the Berkshire 2023 Festival.  Donations  in this Masonic year thus far have exceeded £11,000 and we are well on our way to the Bronze level award.

Our Lodge has supported several worthy charities in the past.  Some of the more recent include Footsteps, Wallingford Museum, The Corn Exchange, The Legion, Talking Newspapers, SSNAP, Hope for Tomorrow, Scouts, and several others.  We also contribute to the various Provincial and Grand Lodge charity programs.

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Photo below shows VW Peter Sands, Chairman of the 2023 Berkshire Festival, making a presentation to over 40 attendees on the Masonic Charitable Foundation and our Provincial support of this charity, 13 June 2019 in Wantage. 

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Site migrated 31st January 2016
​Last update   11 May 2022
Portcullis Lodge No 6672
  • Welcome
  • About Portcullis
    • Location
    • History
    • Historic Notes
    • Programme 2022
    • News & Events
  • Freemasonry & You
    • Join Us
  • Links
    • Recommended Reading
  • Contact
  • Charity
    • Charitable Activities
  • Gallery
  • Beyond The Craft