Somerset Freemasons provide support for young people to take part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Somerset’s Duke of Edinburgh Award team is looking for 100 young people of any ability aged 14 – 24 to take part in the scheme remotely. The valuable skills that they learn help them to develop and succeed in life and since 1956 over 6 million people in the UK have taken part.
Somerset Freemasons, who funded a 3 year bursary of £16,500 between 2016 and 2018 are delighted to announce that in memory of Prince Phillip, himself a Freemason for 69 years, that they have launched an appeal to their members that will again support disadvantaged, vulnerable and disabled participants who wish to take part.
Councillor Faye Purbrick, Cabinet Member for Education and Transformation at Somerset County Council said “We want to acknowledge the generous support given to young people taking part in the scheme by Somerset’s Freemasons both financially and as panel members of the scheme organising committee. It really has made a difference to so many young people’s lives in Somerset.”
Deputy Head of the Somerset Freemasons Ben Batley said, “Our members are honoured to be able to support the Bursary Scheme once again so that those disadvantaged young people in Somerset not aligned to any supporting school or organisation can seek assistance to take part and develop life skills through the Award. We aim to announce the amount raised on June 10th which would have been the occasion of Prince Phillip’s 100th birthday.”
Over the course of the Pandemic Somerset Freemasons have donated over £175,000 to help local communities with projects as diverse as Food Banks, PPE Manufacture, Women’s Refuge, Tablet PC’s to local Hospitals, and the BANES Homeless Project to name but a few.
