Provincial Grand Lodge of Norfolk - Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution

20 Great Queen Street,
London, WC2B 5BG
Telephone: 0171 404 0724

As an organisation offering degrees of care, support and assistance appropriate to individual needs, we are committed to ensuring the individuals' rights to dignity, respect, choice and control over their own lives.

Annuities

The Institution gives annuities to 2,590 Brethren and dependants; this number increases each year. The annuities are paid quarterly in advance, the full annual rate was increased from �520 to �1,040 in June, 1996. All the Institution's annuitants are also awarded an additional Christmas Gift. These payments do not affect statutory benefits. In 1997 annuity payments amounted to �2.5 million. Each payment substantially improves the quality of life of the recipient. Any new case should first be investigated by the Lodge concerned, which will then furnish particulars to the Provincial Grand Secretary or Provincial Almoner, who holds the necessary Petition forms. The Petition form, when completed by the Lodge and by the Provincial Office, should be forwarded in the first instance to the Grand Charity.

Residential and Nursing Homes

The Institution is a major provider of high quality services for older people throughout England and Wales, and over 1,000 older Freemasons and their dependants live in our Homes. Nearly all of the R.M.B.I.'s eighteen Homes are now registered for both residential and nursing care, and the Institution is committed to caring for all the residents for the rest of their lives. The Homes are in Hove (Harewood Court), Oadby (Devonshire Court), Cramlington (Scarborough Court), Chislehurst (Prince George, Duke of Kent Court), York (Connaught Court), Sindlesham (Lord Harris Court), Porthcawl (Albert Edward, Prince of Wales Court), Llandudno (Queen Elizabeth Court), South Croydon (James Terry Court), Eccles (Ecclesholme), Lytham St. Anne's (Fairlawn), Great Crosby (The Tithebarn), Bury St. Edmunds (Cornwallis Court), Bournemouth, (Zetland Court), Exeter (Cadogan Court), Watford (Prince Michael of Kent Court) and Hindhead (Shannon Court). The R.M.B.I.'s eighteenth Home opened in June, 1986, in Hove (Barford Court) and operates in tandem with Harewood Court providing Residential and Nursing care.

As well as providing Sheltered Housing, Residential and Nursing Care, the Institution's Homes are now developing their services for older people with special needs (for example Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease) with a number of special units being created.

The Homes at Great Crosby, Lytham and Eccles are owned by the Hannay Masonic Residential Trust and managed by the R.M.B.I. Fee income from residents able to contribute financially, and State or Local Authority benefits where appropriate, off-set the cost of running these Homes; however, the Annual cost to the Institution is in excess of �2.7 million. Sheltered accommodation for people preferring to live more independently, but with the back-up of the Home's facilities and staff, is available at Harewood Court, Connaught Court, Scarborough Court, Devonshire Court, Prince George, Duke of Kent Court and Prince Michael of Kent Court.

The R.M.B.I. has recently created a new Home near Braintree in Essex (Prince Edward, Duke of Kent Court). The Home opened in 1998 and offers a full range of care including provision for people with special needs.

We will also shortly be expanding our services by developing a Home for a small group of adults with a mental handicap/learning disability. The Home will be situated in Yorkshire and is being funded by grants from the Grand Charity and the Province of Yorkshire (West Riding).

The Institution can also offer short-stay breaks. These are helpful for both those living alone, and for families which need a little time without the demands of caring for an older relative.

Applications for admission (permanent or temporary) or for further details about a specific Home should be addressed directly to the Home concerned where the Home Manager and her staff will be more than happy to deal with any enquiries. Alternatively, general enquiries should be made to Miss Diana Dadomo, Administrative Assistant, at Great Queen Street.

Loans for House Improvements

As a consequence of a generous gift by the late W.Bro. Lt.-Colonel V.C. Donaldson, F.R.I.C.S., P.J.G.D., a substantial fund exists to lend money to Annuitants or recipients of grants from the Grand Charity who are owner-occupiers, in order for them to carry out repairs to their homes, thereby enhancing their quality of life. The loan, which is secured by way of legal charge, is set at 9% or the base rate of Barclays Bank, whichever proves to be the lower at the time. The borrower, however, pays neither capital nor the interest during his or her lifetime unless the property is sold. The loan can include the cost of purchasing the freehold or of redeeming a current mortgage, thus removing from the Annuitant the burden of monthly payments of interest.

Welfare Visits

Many people's problems can be alleviated by the advice and support offered by the Institution's Welfare Team. The Team was originally set up to help prospective residents and annuitants, but now works increasingly to help not only these people, but also other older Freemasons and their dependants. The Welfare Team Co-ordinator, Miss Elizabeth Benson, can be contacted at the Great Queen Street office; in addition to managing the team, she covers the Greater London area; the other Team members are regionally based (at Connaught Court, York; Devonshire Court, Leicester and Harewood Court, Hove).

Guest Speaker

The Institution is always delighted to be invited to provide a speaker on the aims, achievements and needs of the Institution for Lodge or other meetings.









	The Provincial Grand Lodge of Norfolk consists of 75 private lodges, including over 4,500 members. Masonic meetings are held at 23 masonic centres throughout Norfolk.





.	July 5, 2008	.