The Weston Favell Darby and Joan Club has experienced funding problems when the subsidy for its door to door bus service was withdrawn by the Council in 2011. This meant that several of the members would not be able to afford the new fare which had risen from a £1 to £4 in some cases.
The club is run by the volunteers of the WRVS but the WRVS does not contribute to the funding of the Club which pays for most things with the members contributing 50p a week. Out of this the Club organises three trips a year to places of interest around the county, lunch twice a year and pays for speakers once a month. The cost of the bus service would have meant several of the members most of whom are in their 80's and disabled or infirm would not have been able to attend, as the club could not subsidise the bus for any length of time.
This was brought to the attention of Eleanor Cross Lodge Charity Steward, WBro Kevin Corcoran who requested help from the Provincial Grand Charity.
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WBro Neville Manning (centre) presenting the cheque to Jackie Billings |
As a result, on 2 March, WBro Neville Manning, WM of the Lodge, visited the Club where he presented a cheque for £500 to Jackie Billings, one of the volunteers. This donation means the Club can now subsidise the fare.
A very useful spin-off was that others saw news of the Masonic contribution in the local paper and donated £2,000. The WRVS has also contributed £500 to subsidise the bus service.
Local Masons have, once again, prove to be a catalyst for good.