Sir David Wootton visits Scunthorpe to strengthen Hospice links

Second Grand Principal Sir David Wootton has visited Scunthorpe to mark the start of a new dimension of care at the town’s Lindsey Lodge Hospice.

The Hospice and its staff are now ‘Mason aware’, meaning there’s a heightened awareness of Freemasonry, making it better equipped to support Freemasons and their families who need the Hospice as in-patients or whilst visiting the wellbeing centre. Watch Sir David performing the official opening here

Sir David said: “Masonic Aware is a really good example of Community Engagement and I am very happy that Lincolnshire has picked it up: congratulations, and well done.”

The Masonic Aware initiative is designed to reconnect Freemasons, past and present, and their families with practical support and companionship during periods of illness or vulnerability. By addressing isolation and fostering meaningful connections, it enhances the wellbeing of those in need.

Hospice CEO Anne Currie explained that staff had been trained to spot signs that someone coming into the Hospice was a Freemason, perhaps with a Masonic ring or a lapel badge. That information would help to spark conversations, and support the work of Lodge Almoners in caring for Hospice patients. She said: “If there’s a Masonic background it makes conversations easier, and will add an extra dimension to the care we can provide in terms of visiting by involving the extended ‘Freemasonry family’.

“By taking the time to really understand what matters most to our patients then we can deliver truly person-centred care and help enhance the individual’s quality of life in a holistic way in conjunction with other organisations within our wider community.”

The Mason Aware initiative started in Scarborough, where the St Catherine’s was not only the first Masonic Aware Hospice, but also the setting for the first-ever formal Lodge meeting inside a hospice in this country. Another first was added when the Cayton View Care Home became the world’s first care home to join the scheme.

This milestone strengthens the hospice’s role in providing essential assistance to Freemasons and their families during times of need. It operates through a dedicated Provincial contact helping individuals stay connected with their local Lodge network and reducing isolation. In Scunthorpe’s case that’s Rob Lang, the St Lawrence Lodge Almoner.

The next steps will be to replicate the scheme at other hospices within the Province, which are keen to take it on, says PGM Dave Wheeler. “We’re pushing at an open door,” he said.

In the picture are, from left, Masonic Aware champion Tony Dyer from Scarborough, APGM Adrian Joyce, Anne Currie, PGM Dave Wheeler, Hospice Board member Dr Pat Webster, Sir David, Hospice Director of Patient Care and Governance Helen Turner, Rob Lang, and Provincial Almoner Charles Jackson.

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