East Lancashire Masonic Charity Funds Lifelites Hospice Technology

Lifelites is honoured to announce a partnership with the East Lancashire Masonic Charity (ELMC) that will fund technology packages at Francis House and Derian House Children’s hospices over the next 4 years.

The funding grant of £50,000 to Lifelites is a powerful statement of belief in the life-changing potential of technology, compassion and community and continues the generous long-standing support of the charity by East Lancashire Freemasons which has helped change the lives of thousands of children and young people across the province.

We were thrilled to welcome Provincial Grand Master, Robert Ian Frankl, and the Chairman of the East Lancashire Masonic Charity, Chad Northcott, to Francis House so they could witness first-hand the impact of the funding.

During the visit, Chad and Robert had the opportunity to use the technology and experience how it enables children to communicate, play and engage with their surroundings in ways that would otherwise be impossible. They also met some of the children and families we support, hearing personal stories that illustrated the profound difference the technology is making to their lives, as well undertaking a guided tour of the hospice, led by Francis House CEO, Rachel Taylor. Rachel offered insight into the compassionate, holistic environment at Francis House and in which Lifelites’ technology is embedded, and reinforced the importance of a partnership that combines cutting-edge inclusive technology with exceptional palliative care.

Behind this grant sits a long tradition of charitable giving and civic responsibility, something Chad reflected on;

“For over 100 years the East Lancashire Masonic Charity and the Freemasons of East Lancashire have sought to offer grants and support to other charities and good causes within our local communities, to the benefit of the public and society as a whole. Through our Grants Committee, and on behalf of all Freemasons in East Lancashire, we are proud to be associated with Lifelites and Francis House and Derian House by providing funding towards an array of assistive and sensory technology, which will empower so many young people and their families to create unforgettable moments of joy, happiness and connection across our province.”

Speaking about the partnership with ELMC and the support of Freemasons across the province, Rob Lightfoot, CEO of Lifelites said: “Lifelites was founded by Freemasonry in 1999 and today the support from Freemasons across the country is more vital than ever. The grant from the East Lancashire Masonic Charity will enable Lifelites to provide the very latest assistive technology for our hospice partners at Francis House and Derian House. The lives of children using their services are often shaped by medical complexity and uncertainty. But in the midst of all this, their families want what we all want – to give their children a childhood.

This technology is truly life-changing for seriously ill children enabling them to achieves things that may otherwise be out of reach. We are so grateful to East Lancashire Freemasons for helping us to make the impossible, possible for children, young people and their families in communities across their province.”