The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons have generously donated £60,000 to the Rose Road charity in Southampton, which supports disabled children and young people with complex needs. The grant will fund the charity's emergency respite care service across Hampshire, providing much-needed assistance to families in need of unexpected or additional support that is not covered by their standard care funding.
The emergency respite care service offered by Rose Road includes after-school sessions with their outreach teams and stays in their 14-bed respite centre, which costs over £450 per night. This support is crucial for families facing challenging situations such as family bereavement, illness, or work and family commitments that extend beyond the funded hours they receive from statutory organizations.
In addition to the emergency respite care, the grant will also fund the redevelopment of the outdoor space at Rose Road's respite centre. The aim is to create a therapeutic and accessible environment for recreation and relaxation, which will significantly contribute to the physical and mental well-being of the disabled young people who consider Rose Road their 'home away from home'.
The grant was made possible by the donations from Freemasons across England and Wales to the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons used to fund the grant.
Chloe Atkins, head of fundraising at Rose Road, expressed her gratitude towards the Hampshire Freemasons for their generous grant, emphasizing the importance of being able to support families when they need it most. John Pearson, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons charity lead, expressed his pleasure in helping Rose Road provide urgent assistance to families with disabled children and highlighted the importance of access to outdoor spaces for those who stay at Rose Road, as they often have limited access to natural environments.
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