On 5th July 2021, Salford Freemasons played their part in NHS, Social Care & Frontline Workers’ Day to celebrate all those who have worked so tirelessly to help our country through the Coronavirus crisis, and who continue to support some of the most vulnerable people in society.
This was a wonderful opportunity for us to pay tribute to all the local doctors, nurses, care workers and other frontline staff who played such a key role in saving lives and keeping essential services going when Covid-19 struck our country. Their commitment and sense of duty was an inspiration to everyone, and this is our chance to say a huge thank you to every single one of them.
Although this is to be a day of celebration, it is important that the country stops for these two minutes to remember the men and women from the NHS, social care and other key services on the front line who lost their lives in the service of others.
The two-minute silence was led by the Provincial Grand Master Sir David Trippier and his deputy John R Farrington joined by the Salford’s Robert Frankl and some members of the Salford district. This was an emotive scene for many people who were passing in the bustle and traffic of the A6 on a weekday, with a bus stopping to acknowledge the members.
Sir David Trippier presented a cheque on behalf of the ELMC for £2,000 to help the magistrates’ associations Knife Crime Prevention Initiative, who have commissioned the Round Midnight Theatre in Education company, to provide their ground-breaking, multi award winning, virtual reality presentation ‘Virtual Decisions’. This is used as an early intervention tool to disrupt gang culture and reduce youth violence and criminal exploitation. This ‘choose your own path’ VR experience enables young people to actively make decisions in a real-world environment, helping them to achieve a greater understanding of themselves, the choices they make and the possible consequences of their actions.
Ian MacNeil, the Salford District Charity Steward, introduced Emma Rapley from the Salford foodbank, who was delighted to provide feedback on the ongoing support from the members in Salford saying
Thank you so much for your recent food donation to help with the work of Salford Foodbank – the total donation from the Salford Masons was a fabulous weight of 871kg! We really appreciate your generosity, especially as all your items were just what we needed to restock our fairly empty looking warehouse. Please pass on our thanks to all your fellow members for their help in collecting such a vast amount
Salford Freemasons have donated over 200 items to the Salford women’s aid shop. Dawn Renshaw from Salford Women’s Aid came to explain how the donations from the Salford District Freemasons have been put to good use as they were given an eight-bedroomed house in the community, and they have been able to fit out four of the bedrooms, an approximate cost of £650 per room. She explained how important this was for some of the children and how when they move on, and they have to leave the toys at the house, an extra impromptu donation of TLC teddies was given to Dawn so she could give these to the children to take with them when they leave.
Ben Davies, Salford Communications Officer