W4 Youth was born from a heart breaking experience when the founder’s son, then in Year 8, was shot in the face by someone he didn’t even know. He was on his way to collect his friend’s football kit from his house after school one Friday evening in January 2009. He survived and chose to take that painful moment and mould it into a beacon of hope. With his encouragement, his mother started W4 Youth to provide a safe and positive space for young people in the area.

The grant allows the charity to add more coaches and activities to support young people in the community, develop a new cohort of trainers through their bespoke Train the Trainer programme and further support a girls football training session for their Friday Night Fives community league.

W4 Youth’s mission is to offer a welcoming and safe place where young people can find support, engage in meaningful activities and build connections to learn, to grow and to thrive to reach their full potential. Everything they offer is completely free because the charity believes every young person deserves this opportunity.

Football is at the heart of W4 Youth and the W4 Youth Rangers teams have always been in local competitive leagues since 2009. There are also basketball and other traditional youth club activities as well as a new boxing fitness training club all run from the Hub.

In addition to sports, W4 Youth run a successful arts programme from the Church Hall.  Street Dance and Musical Theatre are a very popular outlet for expression and creativity.

W4 Youth provides its members, aged between 10 and 19, with open access activities all year round.  Its members are from all social and ethnic backgrounds and W4 Youth works to improve their health, well-being, social cohesion and employability prospects by engaging them in sports they love, cool and contemporary singing and dance activities, social time with their peers and support and the opportunity to be our coaches of the future through our Train the Trainer programme. The result is a positive impact on both our members and the wider community.

W4 Youth runs its activities from their two Hubs in the local park and the local church hall.  The plan is to build a new home in the park in the future.

Previous grants from London Freemasons have allowed the charity to expand the number of coaches and new equipment needed to support more young people in our activities which has led to improved physical and mental health, self-esteem and general wellbeing from more young people.  The ongoing support that the charity receives allows the work that is being done within the community to support more members.

W4 Youth’s founder Sally Chacatte said: “We are very grateful to London Freemasons for their grant”.

Paul King from London Freemasons said: “We are very pleased to be able to continue supporting the work that W4 Youth are doing within the community to give opportunities to young people, through sports and the arts”.

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The grant enables Missing People to continue providing vital helpline support and work with young people to help remove barriers to accessing the support that they need and support funding for further promoting the charities services to let more children and young adults know that support exists. 

Young people in deprived areas, ethnically minoritised children, and children in care across London are at greater risk of going missing. Criminals target vulnerable children, coercing them to carry and sell drugs. Children as young as 12 who are running drugs for a gang leader, exploited by abusers who have bought them gifts, or offered to ‘protect’ them.” call the charity to get support in the hope of finding a way out.  This is vital in helping change the future for these children and young adults.

Jemma*, aged 14, from London, contacted Missing People by text message, saying she had run away and felt suicidal. Concerned for her safety, the charity helped Jemma explore her options and built up her trust until, with her consent, the charity got her to safety. Missing People continued to support Jemma throughout the process. (*Name changed for confidentiality).

Jo Youle OBE, Chief Executive of Missing People, said:

"We are incredibly thankful to London Freemasons for their generous support. This will make a significant difference in our ability to support young people in London. Going missing is a crisis. Together, we can bring hope and help to those in need.

Paul King from London Freemasons said:

“The work that Missing People do in supporting missing children and young persons living within our communities is important and we are pleased to be able to help the charity further fund the helpline support that they provide”.

Missing People is dedicated to supporting those missing, and those who miss them. The charity’s support for young people in need includes a Helpline, online chat, and advice and information.

Missing People is reliant on public and voluntary support. To find support, or to donate, visit www.missingpeople.org.uk.

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The grant of £4,210 from the London Freemasons will be used to deliver a new project entitled "Skills 4 Emotional Success", which will take place over 20 weeks starting in January 2025 and will include 40 disadvantaged young women aged 16-18. The participants will be divided into two groups (20 young people per group), and each group will attend a two- hour session between 4pm-6pm once a week.

"Skills 4 Emotional Success" is aimed to be a multi- strategy, bespoke approach which will combine emotional well-being activities, skill-building workshops, sports activities and a one-to-one mentoring support system. Being engaged with other local teens will enable these young women whose futures are looking so bleak, to create long-lasting relationships and look ahead positively with increased opportunities.

The young participants will play a significant role during all aspects of the planning, delivery and evaluation, enabling them to develop important life skills, leadership abilities and increase their aspirations.

Mrs Esther Spitzer, Tools for TeensTrustee and Project Co-ordinator, said:

“Many of our beneficiaries have been exhibiting increased signs of stress and anxiety caused by their family's financial hardship. I am really passionate about the launch of this new project, so generously funded by the London Freemasons which will provide these young women with much-needed mentoring support and life skills, giving them important tools to deal with any crisis they may face in the future.”

Paul King from the London Freemasons said:

“We love the work Tools for Teens do with kids in Hackney and Haringey. What better than giving teenagers the skills they need to become the fulfilled and valuable citizens of the future which our community needs.”

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Through the use of dance, music, rap, and drama, this production portrays the journey of two young cousins in search of the safest school possible. It tackles challenging issues in a manner that encourages conversation and discussion within a positive setting. The accompanying workshop complements the performance by promoting learning outcomes and fostering children's understanding of what constitutes a safe space.

Paul Morrall, Executive Director of Education Training and Outreach said:

“Chickenshed are going to use the £7,850 grant provided by London Freemasons to visit,  perform and educate children in schools from at risk areas and in at risk situations in ways to avoid exploitation, the early stages of potential gang recruitment, bullying and group/clique bullying alongside other barriers to their inclusion in school in general and secondary school in particular. The transition between primary and secondary school is often identified as one of the periods of difficulty, alienation and exploitation by gangs and/or abusers. Chickenshed's production and project was created and developed as a direct response to information from police, education and social services. We will use the project as a Safeguarding tool which meets the best education standards and which can be disseminated to wide target groups within organisations. We will reiterated to schools and young people from target groups to look for ways to communicate regularly with their Trusted Persons and Mentors particularly when they want to ask vital questions about Safeguarding, exploitation and the bullying that can lead to so many negative outcomes”

Paul King from the London Freemasons said:

“Creating safe environments, free of bullying and exploitation for children is vital to improving the communities that we all live and work within in London.  We are very proud to support the work that CHICKENSHED does and the results that they create for the community.”

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Go Live Theatre Projects is a London-based charity that uses the power of theatre to create inspiring experiences and unlock possibilities for young people. Go Live offers children and young people the opportunity to experience the magic of live theatre through theatre trips, drama-based workshop courses and education outreach projects, where they may otherwise be unable to due to physical, social and financial barriers. The aim of Go Live Theatre Projects is to contribute towards happier, enriched childhoods and positive futures.

They help make London’s world-class theatre accessible to those who have fewer opportunities or need specialist access support. Go Live encourages and engages young people in the performing arts, both in and out of school, to help develop the skills and knowledge to support their education and future careers. They also give them the space to grow and build confidence through theatre-making and drama-based learning.

CEO of Go Live Theatre Projects, Sita McIntosh said:

“This key grant from The London Freemasons’ Charity allows Go Live Theatre Projects to continue the essential work bringing memorable experiences of live theatre to young people in and around London. Our Stage Seen theatre days offer an accessible and fun day out, and have become incredibly important to the children and their families who attend. This vital grant enables us to continue this core strand of our outreach work and transforms lives with the power of theatre.”

Paul King from the London Freemasons said:

“We’re delighted to support the Go Live Stage Seen initiative – giving children who are deaf or hard of hearing a wonderful theatre experience, particularly those who may not have been to the theatre before. We hope the experience will enrich their lives and future aspirations and interest in the arts.”

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The funding will ensure that children, young people, and their families have the tools they need to reach their academic and personal potential, along with the knowledge and confidence to thrive safely and successfully. It will help empower them to access essential services, seize new opportunities and navigate the digital world with confidence.

Power to Connect, along with distribution runs free Digital Skills courses and Digital Drop-ins across Wandsworth. These sessions, held in local libraries, Family Hubs, and community centres, are designed to increase digital confidence, improve digital literacy, and support participants' overall well-being.

Established to assist families struggling with homeschooling during the Covid-19 pandemic, Power to Connect, founded in 2020, is on a mission to combat digital poverty and support communities with limited access to technology and has since evolved into a vital resource, bridging the digital divide across the local area. Power to Connect has refurbished over 3,500 devices and partnered with more than 130 local organisations, including schools, refugee groups, food banks, and other community services that help identify individuals in need.

Power to Connect works to provide sustainable access to digital technology for individuals and families who are excluded from essential online resources. The charity operates through a circular economy model, collecting, repairing, refurbishing and reusing unwanted devices, such as laptops and smartphones, before returning them to the community.

Megan Barrett, CEO, Power to Connect said:

“At Power to Connect, we believe access to digital technology is a fundamental right, not a luxury. Connectivity is essential for education, employment, accessing vital services, and improving quality of life. We are incredibly grateful to London Freemasons for their generous support. Their contribution enables us to provide more families with devices and the skills to use them, helping to combat digital poverty and ensure no one is left behind in today’s increasingly online world.”

Paul King from London Freemasons said:

“In a world where access to data and digital services is typically taken for granted, the work that Power to Connect are doing to bring those services and tools to those within our communities that do not have access is vital and we know that the grant provided by London Freemasons will further support the charity to make a difference.”

For more information on Power to Connects services or to learn how to get involved, visit www.powertoconnect.co.uk  or follow them on social media @PWRtoconnect

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This was an official visit and coincided with a rare Initiation ceremony. The Worshipful Master, W Bro John Iszatt, vacated the chair so that W Bro Martin Hilstead could initiate his son, Mr Mikey Hilstead. Another family member acted as the Junior Deacon. The meeting was attended by 38 members and guests, making it a very special and memorable occasion.

A thoroughly enjoyable Festive Board was had by all, rounding off an extremely proud day for the Hilstead family and the Cannon Lodge.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 January 2024 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 57 here.

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This was an official visit and coincided with a rare Initiation ceremony. The Worshipful Master, W Bro John Iszatt, vacated the chair so that W Bro Martin Hilstead could initiate his son, Mr Mikey Hilstead. Another family member acted as the Junior Deacon. The meeting was attended by 38 members and guests, making it a very special and memorable occasion.

A thoroughly enjoyable Festive Board was had by all, rounding off an extremely proud day for the Hilstead family and the Cannon Lodge.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 57 January 2024 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 57 here.

The post Son joins father at Cannon Lodge appeared first on YORICK LODGE The Metropolitan Whisky Lodge.

Circle Collective's unique approach combines CV workshops, employability skills training, networking opportunities, and mental health and well-being workshops. Trainees gain valuable work experience on the shop floor, breaking the cycle of youth unemployment. Over 70% of participants move into employment, education, or training outcomes, generating significant social value.

Turly Humphreys, CEO & Founder of Circle Collective said:

"Circle Collective is more than just a charity; it's a community that believes in giving every young person the opportunity to work, our goal is to create lasting change by providing the tools and support needed for young people to build successful careers." .

Paul King from the London Freemasons said:

“We are proud to support Circle Collective in their drive to bring young adults into the workplace and the work that they are doing to drive social value within London communities”

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