The Antient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of England
THE PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE and
ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF DURHAM 8 The Esplanade, Sunderland, SR2 7BH, Tel. 0191 567 5365 Email: enquiries@durhamfreemasons.org Website: www.durhamfreemasons.org
Visiting and Caring Volunteers
The Visiting Volunteers The Province of Durham has 12 Visiting Volunteers (VV’s) who are vetted and trained by the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF). These volunteers are commissioned by the MCF or Province to help Freemasons and their families complete an application for an MCF grant. They are integral to the application process because applications can only be accepted if they have been completed during a visit by either a registered Visiting Volunteer or a member of the Advice and Support Team (AST).
The Caring Volunteers The Province of Durham has 25 Caring Volunteers (CV’s). Their role is pastoral: to make regular contact with and visits to the widowed partners unattached to any Lodges, highlight the Masonic help and support available through the MCF or other Masonic Charities, keep them informed of the Group Breaks and Masonic Homes as well as send each a Masonic Christmas card and cheque. Personal contact is important especially when people become older and often less mobile, more isolated and lonely. The Caring Volunteers will inform Province if they consider visits need to be made for any applications to MCF.
The Caring Committee The Caring Committee consists of : Paul Debenham, Chairman Anthony Raine, Treasurer Ron Black, Pastoral Lead The main role of the Caring Committee is to oversee the care of the widowed partners in the Province whose partners belonged to Lodges which have now closed and the role of the Caring Volunteers.