The Lodge of Dawn is delighted to have successfully sponsored a grant for £4,960 from the Provincial Grand Master’s Fund, part of West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd, to purchase specialist and sensory equipment for a new Leeds Mencap lending library for families who have a young child with a learning disability.
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The library will be part of Leeds Mencap’s Early Years support offer and families will be able to borrow the equipment, including a range of items, sensory equipment and specialist resources. Families will also be provided with support, videos and content on how the equipment can be used to support the child’s development.
Leeds Mencap want to give families the tools they need to support their child at home, which we have found to be particularly important during Covid-19. The library project will support children to develop their physical, communication and play skills through the use of the sensory equipment and specialist resources. Parents will have improved confidence and increased knowledge of how best to support their child in the future so they can reach their full potential.
Based at the Vinery Centre in LS9, Leeds Mencap support children and young people with learning disabilities, creating opportunities for children and their families to be included within their communities and achieve their aspirations.
Cath Lee, CEO said “On behalf of everyone at Leeds Mencap, I would like to thank you and the The Lodge of Dawn, West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd and all of the Freemasons of Yorkshire, for the grant recently awarded to us. This grant is the vital last piece in the jigsaw of funding for our new SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) toy and resources library. The money will help us buy some particularly expensive and specialist items for the library that families would never be able to afford by themselves. Families will be able to borrow specialist toys and equipment to support their child to develop their abilities and learn and play at home. The idea of the library came out of the pandemic when children with learning disabilities were even more isolated than most and their opportunities for intensive developmental play restricted resulting in their learning falling behind. We realised with the right equipment and support at home families would be able to continue to support their child’s development. We will be sending videos and ‘how to’ cards with the toys and equipment from the library to show parents how to use them with their children. We can’t thank you enough for making this possible.”
You can find out more about the work that Leeds Mencap do here, as well as making your own donation.
Charitable giving is a key part of masonic life. You can read more about The Lodge of Dawn’s charitable activity here.
If you are a Leeds-based charity and are interested in applying for a grant, please see our simple guide here.
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