Bacmans Community Limited recently received a shot in the arm from a grant provided by Northumberland Freemasons, through the Richard Henry Holmes Benevolent Fund, of £1500, to assist them in continuing essential work during the ongoing pandemic.
They work within the areas of Cresswell, Ellington, Linton and Lynemouth, who are in the 10% most deprived Lower Super Output Areas in Northumberland, providing employability, debt and benefit advice to clients.
In addition, their work not only has an impact on the quality of family life, individuals and children, but also offers reductions in social isolation, access to advice support and advocacy, emergency food and clothing provision and opportunities for training, volunteering and personal development.
One such project, their Holiday Club Project, has engaged with hundreds of local residents children and families, in response to concerns that families, whose children received free meals but did not during school holidays, was pushing those families deeper into food poverty, by providing activities, food provision and wrap around support. The children have been involved in bush crafts, face painting, Chinese New Year, Halloween and Christmas themed celebrations.
Christina Manners, a Director at Bacmans Community Limited, explained “We are so appreciative of the grant, given by the Provincial Lodge. This will help us provide free clothing, school uniforms, toys, food and holiday activities to the children in our local community”
Stuart Cairns, the Secretary to the Trustees of the Richard Henry Holmes Benevolent Fund, said “Bacmans works within the communities of Lynemouth, Cresswell and Linton providing help and support for a wide range of issues. The team of volunteers operate from premises in Lynemouth. Coronavirus restrictions has severely limited their ability to fund raise and a major concern was the ability to cover the rent for the next 12 months. The Local Authority had agreed a grant of £2,000 but this still left a shortfall of £1,500.
A number of Freemasons who live in the area know how valuable a service that Bacmans provides and applied to the Benevolent Fund for support. I have been delighted to inform Bacmans that the Benevolent Fund has awarded a Grant of £1,500 to cover that short fall and secure their accommodation at Lynemouth for the next 12 months”.
Find out more about the essential services provided my Bacmans Community Limited at https://www.bacmans.co.uk/
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