Page 38 - Essex Mason (Issue 92)

Online Supplement

Essex Freemasons By Colin Felton

fund new mini bus to help carers in south Essex Provincial Charity Steward

Pictured left to right: Paul Ramsden Chief
Executive Carers Choices and RW.Bro Paul
Tarrant, Provincial Grand Master

A new mini bus, fully equipped to help transport vulnerable people across south Essex to allow them to access vital day
care services and to give their carers, many of whom are young children, some much needed rest, has been delivered to
a Benfleet based charity with the support of funding from Essex Freemasons.

Carers Choices, set up to improve the quality of care and support for people in Essex through provision of respite
solutions, has received £16,000 from the Essex Freemasons Community Fund, which was further match funded by
another £16,000 from the MCF, the Freemason own charity, enabling them to buy the bus outright.

It has now joined the fleet of mini buses used every day to bring vulnerable adults and people with learning difficulties
to their Centre in Kiln Road, behind the Castle Point Borough Council offices, where they can be looked after by trained
professionals.
Paul Ramsden, Chief Executive of Carers Choices, explained: “Our buses are essential tools to transport our clients to
and from our centres, which means that we can free up more time for their carers. We also support Young Carers who are
children under 18 looking after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.

“This might be a parent, grandparent or sibling. They frequently do extra jobs in and around the home such as cooking,
cleaning or helping someone get dressed and move around and this is where we can help with training, building
confidence and helping to provide these young carers with the skills
they need.”
“We were delighted to be able to find the £32,000 needed to fund
the new mini bus,” said Paul Tarrant, Provincial Grand Master for
Essex Freemasons. “It will clearly make quite a difference across
south Essex helping dozens of families.”

“I have also been impressed with the incredible range of work Carers
Choices provides for vulnerable adults and children. It is certainly the
kind of community charity that our members in Essex like to support.”

https://cube.essexfreemasons.org.uk