A Cardiff-based charity can continue spreading the word on the importance of organ donation thanks to a grant from the South Wales Freemasons.
Believe – Organ Donation Support is a charity, founded in 2016 by Anna-Louise Bates, that raises awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation. Anna-Louise founded the charity in memory of her late husband, Stuart and her son, Fraser (Bear) Bates whose organ and tissue donations went on to save many lives.
The charity’s mission is to educate and help spread the word on organ donation, support those people involved, and break down the taboo around organ donation by stimulating conversation. The charity believes that one of the best ways to get the message across is through education and has many tools available for schoolteachers to help children, young people and adults in Wales learn about organ donation. A financial donation of £2,300 from the South Wales Freemasons will enable this work to continue, by funding organ donation packs and a bear—the charity’s mascot—to every school in Cardiff county.
Anna-Louise Bates, Founder and CEO of Believe, said: “I would like to thank the South Wales Freemasons for their hugely generous donation to Believe. With this donation, we can carry on helping open up the discussion about organ donation with families.”
“As a charity, we pride ourselves on working closely with schools across Wales, to help spread the word about organ donation through education. Our team of medical student volunteers from Cardiff University visit schools around the area and deliver training on organ donation.”
Robert Payne, from the South Wales Freemasons, said: “As an organisation the South Wales Freemasons help a number of local charities and good causes every year with financial assistance. We are extremely pleased to be able to support Believe, and the work that Anna-Louise and her colleagues at the charity do, by encouraging people to have the vital conversation about giving the gift of life”.
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About Believe Organ Donation
For further information on Believe – Organ Donation Support can be found on its website: https://believe-ods.org.uk/
About the South Wales Freemasons
- South Wales Freemasons, or more formally the Provincial Grand Lodge (PGL) of South Wales, was founded in the 1720s.
- Today, the PGL of South Wales has almost 6000 members, based in over 160 lodges within the old counties of Glamorgan, Brecknockshire and Radnorshire.
- PGL of South Wales has 23 masonic centres, where Lodge meetings take place, in the cities of Swansea and Cardiff and also in smaller towns from Barry in the south to Llandridnod Wells in the north.
- PGL of South Wales is one of 47 Provincial Grand Lodges in England and Wales, which are governed by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE).
About Freemasonry
- Freemasons use four important guiding principles to help define their path through life: integrity, friendship, respect and charity.
- One of the oldest social and charitable organisations in the world, Freemasonry’s roots lie in the traditions of the medieval stonemasons who built our cathedrals and castles.
- Membership is open to people from all backgrounds and the organisation’s aim is to empower members to be the best they can be – it’s about building character, supporting members as individuals and helping them make a positive contribution to society.
- Freemasonry is one of the largest charitable givers in the country, contributing more than £48m to deserving causes in 2018 alone. Freemasons do not only donate money – more than 18.5 million hours of volunteer work was undertaken by Freemasons in 2018.
Further information
For further information on the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Wales:
https://www.southwalesmason.com/
For further information on the Grand Lodge of England:
https://www.ugle.org.uk/about-freemasonry/video-library