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Provincial

Young Freemasons Youth Programme
benefits Essex Charities

ornerstone, a Lodge formed by young Essex Freemasons, continues to lead the way, supporting a
Cgrowing range of good causes across the county with a Youth Programme focussed on local charities
dedicated to helping young men and women in need.
The latest to benefit as part of this growing programme is The Rob George Foundation. The RGF is a Colchester based
charity, supporting young people all over the UK. Launched in January 2014, it has so far helped nearly 1,000 young
people making grants totalling £591,000.
The Foundation has received a £1,000 grant from the Lodge and the Essex Freemasons Community Fund, which will be
used to financially and/or practically support young people facing life threatening or terminal illnesses, or by providing
financial help to those young people who demonstrate exceptional commitment or ability in the worlds of sport or the
performing arts but are held back from fulfilling their full potential due to a lack of funds.

“This money will help to make a huge difference to the lives of young people,” said Lorraine George, who formed
the charity with her husband Philip following the tragic death of their son Rob from Leukaemia, aged just 21. “Our
aims were set by Rob himself and we pride ourselves on trying to fulfil his wish that the foundation should ‘Make a
Difference – One Individual at a Time.’ Rob was himself a very talented sportsman and the aims reflect that, and his
personal experiences and the financial hardships he faced during his illness. We are also very proud of the fact that we
have next to no overheads, so the Freemason’s can relax in the knowledge that just about every single penny of their
donation will reach the young people – just as you would want and hope.”
“We are helping many talented individuals, some of whom are on the cusp of Olympic selection, and one of whom has
recently been selected to represent team GB at the Paralympics. These youngsters, through illness or disability, have
no way of covering all their costs and need help. The current pandemic has brought many huge challenges to charities,
and in common with so many, the Rob George Foundation’s fundraising programme for 2020 was wiped out overnight.
So, understandably we are more grateful than ever (if that’s possible) for this grant from Essex Freemasons. Our
current average grant is running at £633.00, so your grant will help make nearly two whole grants – that’s two real
young people who will hopefully feel we have together ‘Made a Difference’ to their lives.”
The £1,000 was presented to the Foundation by Jack Gilliland from the Cornerstone Lodge, at a short ceremony at Essex
County Cricket Ground. He commented: “Our Lodge is formed of members aged up to 37 so it is understandable that
we wish to support charities that help other young people. The Rob George Foundation does just that, an incredible job,
which is why we were pleased to help.
Present at the ceremony was Assistant Provincial Grand Master Peter Hollingsworth who praised the work of the charity
and Cornerstone Lodge for their ongoing Youth Programme which is seeing more and more Essex charities benefit.
Also pictured are Paul Palmer and John Glynn from Cornerstone and Lorraine and Philip George from the Foundation.

For further press information please contact Colin Felton on 07850 292368 or e-mail colin.felton@essexpgl.org.uk
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