Devonshire Freemasons are very happy to announce that they have been match funded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF). With £1500 coming from Devonshire’s WAKE fund and £500 from The Benevolent Lodge No 303 (Teignmouth) we are able to donate a total of £4000 to Teignmouth’s Alice Cross Centre.
The Current centre was setup in 1989, the Alice Cross Centre traces its roots back to the 1950s in Teignmouth and has a bold mission statement: “Our mission is to maximise our contribution to the well-being of our community. Our vision is to be the community centre of choice for improved health and well-being for all.
We have a weekly timetable of fun things to do, and serve a delicious lunch in the centre every day apart from Tuesday. Our activities align to one of our four pillars of health: food, movement, mind and community. We’ve got lots going on with new events being scheduled regularly.”
But as we discovered when we visited that doesn’t even scratch the surface of what they actually do and their reach into the community of Teignmouth is massive, last year they reached 3427 people in the community, that’s a great achievement..
One very popular activity is their “Band”, they rehearse regularly, and play in residential homes especially around Christmas which makes such a difference to the residents who enjoy their music.
Their Cafe and dining on site is a massive success and their home deliveries of meals provides a point of regular contact and safety checks for the older sections of society who may be socially isolated.
As with so many organisations we try to help they receive no statutory government support so rely on helpers and donations to achieve the £200k a year running cost of the Centre. They have 6 full time staff and a team of 78 volunteers.
There is a regular memory cafe, but it’s over subscribed so there’s plans afoot to start a second one to cope with demand, an indicator of today’s society living so much longer.
Peta Howell (General Manager, Alice Cross Centre):
“The generous £4000 donation from the Masons will significantly enhance the Alice Cross Centre’s ability to serve our community. This vital funding will support the centre’s ongoing programs for the residents of Teignmouth, including our hot and frozen meal delivery service, Lunches, social activities to combat isolation, musical programmes, and support groups. The donation arrives at a crucial time when many charities face financial challenges. The Masons’ contribution demonstrates the power of community organisations working together to strengthen local support networks, ensuring that the centre can continue its mission of maximising our contribution to the well-being of our community.”
W Bro Tim Golder (Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Devonshire Freemasons):
“It is so nice to once again visit the Alice Cross Centre. As a local resident I have known about the centre since Alice herself was heavily involved in it, and it is lovely to see it continuing to thrive. It is an honour to represent the local Freemasons in presenting this donation and I’m glad it will be helpful in making sure your building is fit for purpose for the good work you do”