Helmsley Lodge No 7075 was delighted to make a £750 donation to Next Steps Ryedale for the benefit of their Men in Sheds service, which was increased by a £500 contribution from the Freemasons Charity Yorkshire North and East Ridings CIO and a further £350 grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

Next Steps has been providing support for people experiencing mental health issues for over 15 years, based around a 'Drop-In Centre' and cafe in Norton, North Yorkshire, and small satellite services in Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley. In providing this support the aim is to involve service users, either self-referred or referred from the local Community Mental Health team, their GP, Mind and Ryedale Carers Support, in operating the service and in deciding what it does both in a way of responding to their needs and as a way of helping them take control of their lives.

The services which are provided include ‘Men in Sheds’ where a weekly supervised activity group for men at risk of social isolation, who for whatever reason are low in self-confidence have an opportunity to use and share their skills and issues with others in similar situations. Opportunities for helpers at the Men in Sheds, where numbers are beginning to build again post COVID are always available, and a close link has subsequently developed between Helmsley Lodge and Next Steps for the future.

Photographs show Leisa Burniston receiving the donation from the Master of Helmsley Lodge Nigel Hughes and members of the lodge attending one of the recent Men In Sheds sessions at Pickering.

Leisa said “This donation will go a long way to ensuring that the Men in Sheds service will continue to be provided for some time to come”.

Nigel commented, ‘This is part of what Freemasonry is all about – engaging with the local community and helping in any way that we can”.