Bexley Snap is a charity that delivers disabled children and young people aged between 1 and 25 an exciting and varied programme of clubs, whilst also providing parents and carers support, guidance and regular breaks from their caring responsibilities.
Three years ago, the MCF (now the Freemasons’ Charity), provided Bexley Snap with a sensory room that particularly helps children and young people, who are managing neurodivergent challenges. Since then, support has been ongoing from a number of local Lodges from the different Orders of Freemasonry in Kent.
The Lord Harris Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners and The Erdemont Lodge of Mark Master Masons both planned to support Bexley Snap, and it was discovered that Bexley Snap had an Amazon wish list. This list was for toys and other items with a particular focus on assisting children with autism and other sensory challenges. The wish list totalled some £350. Given that this became a project to provide the charity with a tangible asset, the Lodges got together and each put £100 towards the project and applied for joint funding from the Kent Mark Benevolent Fund of £150.00.
The KMBF trustees readily agreed to the request and the Lodges made the relevant transfers to the KMBF and the toys and items were purchased and presented to Bexley Snap on Friday 18 September.
Representatives of the KMBF trustees and of both Lodges attended a very jolly gathering as the items were formally handed over. Some can be seen in the group picture with the Director of Bexley Snap, Rose Robb, rightly taking centre stage. When you see how far £350 goes (or doesn’t go) it becomes ever clearer how important it is to support charities such as Bexley SNAP.