The Lodge Almoner Seminars

 Over 50 Lodge Almoners attended the seminars at Harrow on 11^th March and at Cole Court on 1^st April 2023.

The programme consisted of a two-hour session where W. Bro Ivan Chu, Provincial Grand Almoner did a presentation on the Masonic Charity Foundation (MCF) which aimed to improve the knowledge amongst the Almoners on who is eligible to support as well as the types of support available in different circumstances. In addition, he also gave examples of the help being offered to the brethren and families by the three charity organisations in Middlesex, namely the Middlesex Province Relief Fund (MPRF), Middlesex Masonic Charity (MMC) and The Province of Middlesex Benevolent Fund (PMBF). Bro Ivan explained the purpose of the Mental Health Services Directory a copy of which was given to all those present for reference.

Bro Frankie Whelan-Mellor ProvDepGDC talked about his own personal experience as an army officer and how he had suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through exposure to various traumatic incidents during his many tours in different parts of the world. The stories were absolutely moving, and it was extremely interesting in how he discovered Freemasonry which had then helped him to recover from the disorder. Currently he is helping soldiers as a welfare officer and fully intends to help any brother who has suffered the same condition. He also stressed that PTSD was something that could happen to many other occupations such as police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services personnel.

Bro Ivan intends to hold other seminars in the future which may include informal discussions as a shared-learning exercise as well as specific topics such as “social security entitlements” and “cognitive behavioural therapy”.