(l-r) Jon Whitaker, head of Hants and IoW Freemasons, Claire Simpson, Alabaré Outreach Support Worker, RN veteran Tim Battersby, Yanna Preston, Alabaré’s Service Manager, John Pearson, the Freemasons’ charity lead.
A charity that cares for forces’ veterans has been boosted by a £20,000 grant donated by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons.
The money, delivered through the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) to Alabaré’s four Gosport homes, is to help fund support staff.
One of those being assisted is Royal Navy veteran Tim Battersby who saw service in three theatres of war and after losing his wife to Covid subsequently lost his home.
Living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and having suffering from septicaemia, Tim was referred to Alabaré.
He is now putting his life back together and is being guided through the difficulties and bureaucracy that left him homeless.
Jon Whitaker, who heads the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons, visited one of the homes with John Pearson, the local Freemasons’ charity lead.
He said: “This grant will help funding for support staff who do such a great job helping veterans. It is absolutely a vocation.
“Some of those who require support have been the victims of unfortunate and unpredictable circumstances; others have PTSD, alcoholism or drug issues.
“Every one of them has served the country and we owe it to them to ensure they are cared for, and this grant will help Alabaré do just that.”
The charity was founded in 1991 by Rev John Proctor and his wife Alicia after they befriended and offered a home to a series of people in crisis.
They soon realised that the need was far greater than they alone could meet and in partnership with a Christian community founded Alabaré.
The charity now looks after hundreds of people through its homes and services in England and Wales.
Editor’s note:
There are around 9,000 Freemasons in Hampshire and Isle of Wight, and over 250 Lodges. Although Freemasonry has been an open and transparent organisation for some time, there are still many misconceptions. Essentially, Freemasonry is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values based on integrity, kindness, honesty and fairness. It is one of the world’s oldest and largest non-religious, non-political, fraternal and charitable organisations.
For further information please contact:
Provincial and masonic information: Provincial Marketing Officer, Roger Maber, email: roger@guessens.com tel: 07802605499