Back in May 2021, we were delighted to announce that The Lodge of Dawn had been successful in securing a grant of almost £25,000 from West Riding Masonic Charities Ltd for the building of a 4G AstroTurf MUGA (multi-use games area), for the Chapeltown Youth Development Centre (CYDC) on Scott Hall Road in Leeds.
A very short 6 months later the fantastic new facility was opened, meaning that almost 1,000 children a week were able to use this valuable addition to the local community, in an area identified as the 5th most deprived area in England.
On a freezing, foggy January morning ten of the brethren of The Lodge of Dawn went down to CYDC not only to see the facility, and the children using it, but also to hear all about the wonderful work that CYDC do, and how the new pitch contributes to an incredible beneficial ‘ripple effect’.
“It was brilliant to get the donation,” Jake Boyd, who runs the club’s foundation age teams, said. “You know it’s going to engage the kids all year round, not just depending on how the weather is. Games and training would often get cancelled because the pitches got waterlogged so quickly, or they would be frozen solid which is also dangerous. The kids are buzzing with it, they aren’t bothered by the weather. They just want to play.”
The Lodge of Dawn met Lutel James – CEO, Jake Boyd – Positive Destinations Project Co-Ordinator, David Adams – Chairman and Syimah who each explained how the MUGA was being used, and more importantly the benefits that getting the children, and in turn their parents, involved in not only the sporting side but the wider support that’s offered.
The ‘ripple effect’ of the MUGA includes;
- Kids playing sport (obviously!!)
- The opportunity to do sport on more occasions (because it’s an all-weather surface)
- Kids not doing ‘wrong stuff’ (because they are busy playing sport)
- Connecting with the kids’ parents who need support whilst their kids are also there
- Training others to train kids
- Training others (eg to be referees, coaches etc) to create earning opportunities
When he addressed the Lodge of Dawn representatives, Luthel James said, “With what you’ve done and the help that you’ve given us, don’t under-estimate it, because it goes MILES further than that. It’s one of those things that says ‘here’s a contribution’ but it’s been a catalyst to 50 to 100 other things happening because of that contribution.”
He also added “Across the board the perceptions of Freemasons is that you are in your ivory towers – that’s how some people see it. But our perception and view has changed and now is that they are ‘real people who drink coffee and tea’, and parents say ‘oooh, we spoke to them’. So for me it’s bridged that gap between perception and reality, because when they started seeing you in reality, and that’s what happened, and people now here have got a different view, not because of that [The MUGA] but because you’ve come down here and had that level of engagement as well and it makes a difference. It shows that when you people do things, the parents get to understand what your organisation has done for us, and that they appreciate it, and they respect it, because there’s not many people doing it. We appreciate it. “
After the visit, Worshipful Master, Christian Higgins said, “we’d hope that our involvement doesn’t stop here. We’ll be looking at additional ways to further support this great community project”.
Charitable giving is a key part of masonic life. You can read more about The Lodge of Dawn’s charitable activity here.
If you are a Leeds-based charity and are interested in applying for a grant, please see our simple guide here.
Joining The Lodge of Dawn
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