Disability Action Yorkshire learners benefit from Freemasons Coronavirus grant

DISABLED students in Harrogate are being aided in their lessons thanks to a local Masonic Lodge.

Harlow Lodge secured a grant of £1,500 to enable Disability Action Yorkshire to purchase six laptop computers, which are being used by learners at its Hornbeam Park headquarters and training centre.

During the coronavirus lockdown, which resulted in the closure of the charity’s classrooms, IT played an important role in the continuing education of its students via distanced learning lessons.

Disability Action Yorkshire Chief Executive Jackie Snape said:

“Once again, we are extremely grateful to the Masonic community for their latest generous donation.

“Over the years we have received financial support from a number of different lodges within Harrogate, including helping us fund a wheelchair accessible vehicle and a virtual reality headset to aid helping customers at our residential home experience new situations before trying them for real.

“These new laptops will boost our IT provisions and are a very welcome addition to our training resources.”

Harlow Lodge secure the funding from the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding’s Provincial Grand Master’s Fund.

Each year this fund distributes grants totalling £200,000 to charities, community groups, youth organisations and hospices across the Province’s geographical footprint.

Based on the old West Riding, the area stretches from Sheffield in the South to Ripon in the North and Goole in the East to Waddington in the West.

Last month alone it presented grants totalling £124,369.

Jason Baskind, Master of Harlow Lodge, said:

“Charitable giving is at the heart of Freemasonry, and I’m delighted that we were successful in our application for a grant for Disability Action Yorkshire.

“Like every charity in the UK, Covid has had a massive impact on its fundraising activities.

“Disability Action Yorkshire is a highly-respected organisation and much valued in Harrogate and it’s a pleasure to be associated with it.

“These laptop computers are already being put to good use, within Disability Action Yorkshire’s training centre.”

Additional information regarding the Freemasons Province of Yorkshire West Riding is available from the website: https://www.wrprovince.org.uk/

Further information about Disability Action Yorkshire, is available from the website: www.disabilityactionyorkshire.org.uk