County Gate Lodge is proud to support the following two Provincial Charities

The West Kent-Tender Loving Care (TLC) Charity

This charity exists in several Masonic Provinces thoughout the country and donates a teddy bear to sick children when they are taken to the A&E, and MUI units in hospitals throughout the Provinces.

In West Kent, to date, over 20,000 teddy bears have been donated, something we are very proud of.

The Chairman of the West Kent TLC Appeal is our very own W.Bro.John Blew and the Lodge supports the charity with regular donations. This charity only exists through the generosity of the Freemasons throughout the country.

Visit the Tender Loving Care (TLC) charity website.

The Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing Charity

Known as the MTSFC, this is a national Masonic Charity which provides days out for handicapped and severely underpriviledged children.

There are many Masonic Provinces throughout the UK which have their regional teams who volunteer their time to coach these unfortunate children in the art of Fly Fishing. It is quite amazing to witness the transformation in them from their arrival at the lake to their departure, having been coached, fed and watered by a team of volunteers.

W.Bro. Alan Game is very involved in this and is one of the team of volunteer coaches. W.Bro's. Doug Graham and David May are registered helpers and work to ensure that the children have a memorable day out.

Visit the Masonic Trout and Salmon Fishing charity website.

County Gate Lodge supports the following Masonic charities

The Masonic Samaritan Fund (MSF)

The Province of West Kent is working towards a target of £2.25 million pounds to support the MSF in 2015.

The Lodges and Chapters in West Kent have been contributing towards this target for four years and we are now approaching the halfway stage of the appeal.

County Gate Lodge members have so far donated over £5,000, hopefully with a lot more to come before the appeal ends in May 2015.

The Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys

The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys is one of the central Masonic charities. Its primary aim is to assist with the education and welfare of the children of deceased or distressed Freemasons. When funds permit, however, the Trust may also assist non-Masonic children by giving grants to other children¹s charities.

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution

RMBI Information Line - a new service from the RMBI

Call FREE on 0800 068 7624 (7 days per week, 7am - 7pm)

Brethren of the Province, please note this information

This new service is being seen as very important to those in the community requiring quick and easy access to completely free and fully reliable information on a wide variety of government, local authority support services and other general matters.

The broad range of headings under which information is available is:

• Community care
• Consumer issues
• Health issues
• Housing
• Income & benefits
• Leisure, learning & work

and the information is available by way of detailed FACTSHEETS, which are FREE.

For instance, from the 'Housing' fact sheet, information is available on "Older home owners: financial help with repairs and adaptations".

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution

The Grand Charity

For more information on the work of the Grand Charity, please visit their website: www.grandcharity.org

Marlborough School, Sidcup, Kent

This is a local school for physically and mentally handicapped children aged up to 18 years of age.

Our Almoner alerted the Lodge to this school who were looking for funding for a project to build a new Sensory Room. Two of our members visited the school and met with the head teacher who showed them around the school, a very humbling experience.

With an estimated target of some £20k to £25k we determined to help as much as we could. We petitioned the Province of West Kent and were fortunate enough to be awarded a grant of £8,000. Added to the £2,000 raised by our Lodge members, the members of the Lodge of Instruction and members of the County Gate Royal Arch Chapter, we have donated £10,000 in total towards the project.

Visit the Marlborough School website.

Diamond Day Out

The "Diamond Day Out" Jubilee celebration held at Hewitt's Farm on Saturday 2nd June, The Provincial Grand Master of West Kent, Rt.W.Bro.Jonathan Stuart Winpenny, presents a Cheque for £8,000 from the Provincial Benevolent Fund to Mrs Linda Lee, Head teacher at the Marlborough School. Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust

Visit the web site