For two years running Essex Royal Arch Masons have supported 20 schools with a donation of £10,000, £500 to each school. These donations were made possible by the generosity of Essex Freemasons through Essex Mason Limited and the Essex Freemasons Community Fund.
Community involvement is part of ‘Service’ which is one of the four important values that help Freemasons define their path through life. Whether participating in events for a charitable cause or volunteering for public or community organisations, service is at the very heart of Freemasonry and its members make valuable contributions by donating time, resources and skills. Supporting schools is an essential part of community involvement.
In 2022 Essex Royal Arch Masons donated £10,000 to 20 schools in Essex, in 2023 this was repeated to another 20 schools. However, for 2024 each school will be supported by a local Royal Arch Chapter with other resources. This support will take the form of financial donations, helping with projects, or supplying manpower. This will lead to an ongoing relationship between each school and a Royal Arch Chapter based at a local Masonic Centre.
Across the schools the £500 each was given in 2022 and 2023 was used for a variety of projects to make the festive season more enjoyable for the children, these included:
The schools being supported this year and the Chapters which will link with them are below:
|
Masonic Centre |
Royal Arch Chapter |
School |
Post Code |
|
Kelvedon |
Easterford |
St Mary’s CofE |
CO5 9DS |
|
Loughton |
Temple |
Oak View School |
IG10 1TS |
|
Saffron Walden |
Walden |
Katherine Semar Junior |
CM11 4DU |
|
Southend |
Prittlewell |
Bournemouth Park Academy |
SS2 5JN |
|
Braintree |
St Mary’s |
Edith Borthwick |
CM7 2YN |
|
Tollesbury |
Tollesbury |
Tollesbury Primary |
CM9 8QE |
|
Upminster |
Upminster Daylight |
Corbets Tey |
RM14 2YQ |
|
Harwich |
Star in the East |
Harwich Community Primary |
CO12 3NP |
|
Manningtree |
Mistley |
Mistley Norman CofE |
CO11 1LS |
|
Witham |
Peverel |
Howbridge |
CM8 1BZ |
|
Frinton |
Holland on Sea |
Sir Martin Frobisher |
CO15 2QH |
|
Halsted |
Colne Valley |
Richard de Clare |
CO9 2JT |
|
Rochford |
St Andrews |
Waterman Primary |
SS4 1QF |
|
Chelmsford |
Mildmay |
St Pius X Primary |
CM1 4HY |
|
Thurrock |
St Georges |
Herringham Primary |
RM16 4JX |
|
Orsett |
Stanford le Hope |
East Tilbury Primary |
RM18 8SB |
|
Colchester |
Abbeygate |
Cherry Tree Academy |
CO2 0BG |
|
Chingford |
Old Parkonians |
Longshaw Primary |
E4 6LH |
|
Clacton |
Coronation |
Shorefields |
CO15 6HF |
|
Harlow |
Borrowed Light |
Cooks Spinney |
CM20 3BW |
It is planned that there will be continuing support for these schools and how this support develops will be shared.
“These donations to schools in Essex are part of our support for the community and helping those in need” said Paul Tarrant, the Provincial Grand Master of Essex Freemasons, who is also the Grand Superintendent of Essex Royal Arch Masons. Paul added “It is great to see the money being used so well for such a variety of projects”.
