At a meeting at Tithebarn Care Home, The Friends of Tithebarn have been informed that there is a proposal by RMBI (Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Care Company) to sell the Tithebarn Care Home, which is situated in Crosby, to the privately owned Franklin Care Group. The Friends of Tithebarn have been informed by the Franklin Care Group that all of the Freemasons who are resident at the Tithebarn will continue to be cared for at the rest home.
The Friends of Tithebarn, which has been in existence since 1957, is an individually registered charity. It was formed when a group of Freemasons decided to assist in helping older Freemasons, their families and also people in the wider community in later life, whether it is full-time care, or for people in need of respite. Current chairman, Graham Chambers, former Chairman of the Ormskirk and Bootle Group, has a remit to continue the work of the previous chairmen, the first of whom was Bert Norcott, as well as to provide his own ideas to continue the success of Tithebarn Care Home.
The Friends of Tithebarn committee’s aims are to organise and run fund raising events each year to benefit the residents of Tithebarn Care Home. Committee members of the Friends of Tithebarn also play a pivotal role at the care home, by befriending residents who have minimal or no contact with relatives. These acts of friendship provide comfort, support and reassurance for many residents. The Committee of the Friends of Tithebarn came into fruition in 1974, when the RMBI took over from the Hannay Trust, which had opened the Tithebarn Care Home as a residential rest home in 1956.
With the aid of charitable donations from many lodges and chapters and many sponsored events carried out by Freemasons, the Friends of Tithebarn have been able to donate a magnificent amount of £320,000 over the years to the Tithebarn Care Home. The Friends of Tithebarn made their first purchase for the care home in 1994, when a 13-seater minibus was bought to covey residents of the home to various venues and places of entertainment. The minibus was replaced by the Friends of Tithebarn with a new one in 2004 and this year the minibus was refurbished, due to new safety regulations.
The donations by the Friends of Tithebarn have also included £40,000 to purchase a new fully fitted bespoke ambulance. The Jubilee lounge extension was also purchased for £50,000. A fully furnished Bistro Lounge Bar facility, with a ground coffee, tea and hot chocolate drinks facility was also purchased for £6,000. A sensory room, with black-out curtains and mobile sensory mood lighting and music system was purchased for £7,000. A front-of-house sensory garden pathway and the Dementia Wing were also purchased for £25,000.
The sensory garden walkway, allows residents, Freemasons, their friends and families, to take a stroll through the grounds and enjoy the wildlife and scenery. As one committee member said: “The Friends of Tithebarn have given blood, sweat and tears to help residents of the Tithebarn Care Home and hopefully this outstanding support offered by the Friends of Tithebarn will continue for many years to come.”