Category: Service

News relating to charity and service in herefordshire and beyond

  • Eastnor Lodge donate to Ledbury First Responders.

    Eastnor Lodge donate to Ledbury First Responders.

    Eastnor Lodge based in Ledbury recently donated to Ledbury First Responders who are a team of dedicated volunteers, that respond to medical emergencies and provide support to our community, through awareness training. 


    Part of the Hereford and Worcester Community First Responder Charity, the scheme in Ledbury has an operational area that stretches far from the town and out into the surrounding countryside parishes. 

    Community First Responders are a group of volunteers, that are trained by the ambulance service to respond to medical and trauma emergencies within their community, whilst the ambulance is on route. 

    The original reason community first responders were created, was to assist with the ambulance service response to cardiac arrest patients. This has now developed into a concise medical and traumatic trained response role. 

    The CFR team are responded within a ten-mile radius of wherever they are on call, this allows a rapid response to patients, event without the use of blue lights. The local knowledge and awareness of the road network, allows our team to navigate to patients efficiently.

    Alongside responding, the CFRs also undertake Community Education, and Fundraising for the charity. The donation from Eastnor Lodge has been used towards a Community Engagement Kit which consists of: 

    1.      Community Training Manikins Adult + AED – 

    2.      Community Training Manikins Child 

    3.      Community Training Mankins Infant 

    4.      Public Access Bleed Kit Trainer 

    5.      First aid kit

    This will enable Ledbury First Responders to provide training and support in the local community.

    The picture shows L to R Scott Kibble – Ledbury CFR, Paul Finlay – Eastnor Lodge and Fran Thomas – Ledbury CFR with some of the kit the donation supported.

    Further information can be found on the HWCFR website here https://www.hwcfr-ledbury.com/home

  • Eastnor Lodge Donation to the Colwall Youth Project

    Eastnor Lodge Donation to the Colwall Youth Project

    Eastnor Lodge recently donated £3,000 to the Colwall Youth Project.  The Project is in the process of securing a new premises adjacent to Colwall train station. The space will be transformed into a dedicated youth centre tailored to the needs of local young people, offering informal youth work, mentoring, wellbeing support, and community activities.

    The move aims to improve accessibility for young people, especially those facing difficulties due to limited rural transport options. The new location will enable greater independence for young people travelling from surrounding areas, fostering a safe and supportive environment where they can build resilience and a sense of belonging.

    It is expected that the unit will be fully renovated within the next six months. The Eveson Charitable Trust has very generously funded the rent for the building, enabling the project to focus their fundraising efforts on the renovation and fit out of the space so it can properly serve the community.

    The location next to the train station is particularly exciting. It means young people from surrounding areas will be able to travel independently to access support, which is something many currently struggle with due to rural transport limitations.

    The picture shows Left to right, the Lodge Charity Steward Nick Humphrey together with the Worshipful Master of Eastnor Lodge, Paul Finlay and Aron Williams, Senior Youth Worker and Project Manager at Colwall Youth Project.

  • Ariconium Lodge Supports Lunchtime Concerts 

    Ariconium Lodge Supports Lunchtime Concerts 

    Ariconium Lodge from Ross on Wye have donated £100 to St Mary’s Church to support their summer lunchtime concerts on the first Wednesday of the month from April to November 2026.

    The concerts are for visitors and locals to attend and also to support the church spire renovations.

    The picture shows the Worshipful Master of Ariconium Lodge presenting the cheque.

  • Dean Waterfield Lodge Visits ‘The Living Room’

    Dean Waterfield Lodge Visits ‘The Living Room’

    In November 2025 Dean Waterfield Freemasons heard that the Living Room needed funds to enable them to continue supporting the local homeless community in Hereford and those that maybe about to become homeless.

    The charity ETHOS (Extending The Hand OSupport) headed up by Mel Groves provides invaluable support to the local homeless community. Members of Dean Waterfield Freemasons contacted Mel and arranged to meet her on  December 22nd and donated £1,000 to support this wonderful group of dedicated individuals.

    At a follow up meeting with Mel after Christmas she informed us that the donation arrived just in time to pay the Christmas meat bill, which was in excess of £900, for which she and the rest of the team were extremely grateful for. So much so she was keen to display our blue logo “Supported by Herefordshire Freemasons” in the front window.

    Hereford Homeless Support is a local initiative dedicated to addressing the challenges of homelessness in Hereford. Founded in 2018 by a group of compassionate individuals, the project provides meals, clothing, and practical support to individuals experiencing homelessness. In collaboration with Ethos, the project established a safe space in the city, which led to the creation of the Living Room, a hub for essential services and support.

  • Vitruvian Donation to Friends of Ross Community Hospital

    Vitruvian Lodge in Ross on Wye recently made a donation of £600 to Friends of Ross Community Hospital.

    The money will be used to purchase a stainless steel trolley to be used in the wards to help distribute confectionary and small useful items for patients.  

    A plaque will be fixed to the trolley to show it was donated by the Lodge.