20 more schools supported by Essex Royal Arch Masons

Freemasons increase support in 2024 with more resources for local schools within the community

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:

  • Enhanced festive dinners
  • Support for children to go a pantomime
  • To bring a pantomime into the school
  • To pay for festive decorations
  • To buy reading books as presents for each child
  • To create a festive wonderland experience
  • Plus more…….

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”. 

New - View vlog for Shorefields, a special needs school in Clacton:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erZpYC-Ob1E  

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Top: All 20 Schools being supported