Money will help Devon Link-Up’s work supporting people with learning difficulties
A charity supporting people with autism and learning difficulties, which works in several towns including Ottery St Mary, has benefited from a £3,500 grant from the Devon Freemasons.
Devon Link-Up runs ‘Speaking Up’ groups which meet monthly to enable members to talk about issues affecting their daily lives, such as work, friends, health, housing and politics.
The organisation helps to ensure that their views are represented in consultations, and works with other bodies including Healthwatch Devon and the police. It has also given funding to Devon-based Stop Abuse For Everyone to help it develop specialist services for women with learning disabilities who experienced domestic abuse.
Devon Link-Up also arranges outings and social activities suggested by members, including art, music, cinema and games of skittles.
The Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire, Ian Kingsbury JP, went to meet the Devon Link-Up committee and members of the groups they aim to help and support, to present a certificate to commemorate the association between the two organisations.
He said: “The need to support an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities to have a voice is of paramount importance, and has a natural blend with the morals and disciplines which are at the roots of Freemasonry.”
Julie Gilpin, chair of the trustees of Devon Link-Up, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to the Devon Freemasons. As a small charity we are dependent on the support that we receive from donors. The money given so generously by the Freemasons will be used to ensure that adults with a learning disability continue to have a representative voice and are able to influence matters that impact on their lives.”
Every year the Devon Freemasons donate large sums of money to charities and other good causes in the county. This year they will have given a total of around £350,000 to dozens of organisations, including schools, youth services, and hospitals. The Devon Air Ambulance gets around £4,000 a year and Devon’s hospices around £15,000. Sports clubs, village halls and Crimestoppers have also benefited from the money raised by the Devon Freemasons.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here