Intendant-General for the West Midlands Division, R.Ill.Kt. John Tristram, accompanied by Darren Coleman-Heald, Charities Manager from Mark Masons’ Hall, London and several local members of the Order, visited the Cirencester Opportunity Group (COG) to make a presentation of £2,500. John said, “we delighted that the Fund has been able to assist COG in their vital work with pre-school children”.

This grant will be spent on providing home-cooked meals for the children five days a week, throughout 2019. It will ensure that the children have a nutritiously balanced meal, with many opportunities provided for them to experience and learn about new food tastes and textures to support their development.

COG is a small children’s charity which has been providing a service to the community since 1973. This Specialist Early Years Centre offers inclusive care and education to children and toddlers, and much needed support to their families.

Over 50% of the children must have a special need or a disability and the children who come to the centre have a range of needs including: Autism Spectrum disorders, global developmental delay, genetic disorders and speech and language difficulties.  Some of the children growing up within challenging circumstances and experiencing deprivation. COG is the only group of its kind in the area and is widely respected in its field. The charity serves the town of Cirencester and the surrounding villages within a 15-mile radius preparing the children for school life, through Speech and Language Therapy, Music Therapy, Soft play facilities, offering practical, emotional and one-to-one support.

The West Midlands Division has been pleased to contribute to the Cirencester Opportunity Group and wish them well for the future.

 

Thanks to John Tristram for the article and Dave Wells & Darren Coleman-Heald for the photos

Issued from the Charities Office, Mark Masons’ Hall, London 15.11.2018