Page 14 - Essex Mason (Issue 92)

Provincial Charity Steward
£34,000 grant will give a voice to those with learning disabilities

facing end of life care in Basildon and Thurrock colin.felton@essexpgl.org

Pictured while visiting St Luke’s in Thurrock are: Colin Felton,
Charity Steward for Essex Freemasons; Eileen Marshall,
Chief Executive of St Luke’s; Michelle Mitchell, Head of Fund
Pictures By Mike Barrett Raising and Lee Taylor, Asst. Provincial Grand Master.
Essex Communications Team

Essex Freemasons have given £34,000 to St Luke’s Hospice in Basildon as part of a ground-breaking initiative
to give a voice to those with learning disabilities who are facing end of life decisions affecting them and their
families.
The grant, donated via the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), the Freemasons own charity, will enable the Hospice
to work with this vulnerable group and those involved in their care.
Sarah Linzey, Head of wellbeing and information and supportive care services states ‘there are more than 30 care homes
across the Basildon and Thurrock areas which support people with Learning Disabilities. Taking into account those
people living in private homes and apartments, there are potentially large numbers of people unaware of the end of
life and palliative care services that can be offered by a Hospice such as St Luke’s. The initiative aims to encourage early
referral in these situations, working in partnership with staff and agencies involved to help facilitate this.
“We are so very grateful to Essex Freemasons who provided this grant to support this important work,” said Sarah. “It
is urgently needed for both people with learning disabilities and their parents or carers. Those working with people with
learning disabilities, including care home staff, and their carers need support and advice in end-of-life care situations.
“We have had cases where parents or carers have died and the person with a learning
disability who is left may struggle with not knowing how to organise a funeral for

their loved one. If it is someone with a learning disability facing their own end of life
care, they need help and support to make their wishes known.”
The £34,000 grant from Essex Freemasons is part of a £100,000 package which has seen support for three Essex Hospices
-St Luke’s, St Helena in Colchester and Farleigh in Chelmsford, who have all received more than £30,000 each.
“I am delighted that we have been able
to make such a difference in the local
community,” said Lee Taylor, Assistant
Provincial Grand Master, after visiting St
Luke’s new Thurrock Hospice.

“It is important that people with learning
disabilities have equitable access to advice,
care and support in end of life care and I
am confident that St Luke’s, by working with
individuals and alongside partner agencies
in hospital and the community, will help
provide this.”
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