WEST LANCASHIRE FREEMASONS’ CHARITY
The principal aims and objectives of the charity are and will continue to be the provision of financial assistance for the relief of Freemasons of the Province, their widows, children and dependents who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.
This leaflet explains how we are able to help: WLFM Charity Leaflet
Big enough to make a difference
Our charity is the largest UK Masonic charity outside the Grand Charities and we anticipate making significant payments to deserving causes.
Freemasonry Cares
If you are or have been a Freemason in West Lancashire or are a widow, child or dependant of a West Lancashire Freemason and you are in need of financial assistance, the WLFC may be able to help.
You can start the process either by contacting the almoner of the lodge, calling Freemasonry Cares
0800 0356090
or by contacting the WLFC direct.
See the contact page to see how to contact us.
Giving
The West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity is proud to play its part in the wider sphere of Masonic giving where £1,000,000s are provided each year for national and international causes, all from the pockets of Freemasons and often unnoticed by the general public.
Gifts to the community
We also believe that Masonry has a valuable role to play in the community and we have been pleased to provide funding over many years to help a wide variety of projects, such as:
- North West Blood Bikes
- St Vincent’s School for the Blind
- Blackpool Scouts
- Zoё’s Place in Liverpool
- and many, many more.
Manned by discreet volunteers
Nobody in our organisation receives any payment for the time they give to our charity. Our team of volunteers are however, extremely experienced in the working of the charity and are all bound by a strict code of confidentiality.
They are extremely dedicated, sympathetic to applicants’ difficult circumstances and happy to offer assistance and advice to those in need. We appreciate that seeking help when you are in need can be embarrassing and stressful but you can be assured that your application will be dealt with sympathetically and discretely.
Running a lean ship does not mean skimping on standards. Everyone involved is determined to follow best business practice and fully meet the most stringent regulatory requirements ensuring that funds are not only secure but are applied correctly and efficiently.
Governed by a board of Directors
The directors are drawn from a wide range of professional backgrounds suited to taking on the responsibility of overseeing a substantial financial enterprise. They all have considerable experience in managing organisations / charities.
Howard Lloyd
CEO WLFC
Howard is a Chartered Accountant and spent most of his working life in the Coal, Nuclear and Defence industries in a variety of roles including being a director of companies in the UK and overseas.
He has also been involved in industry privatisations, in negotiating major contracts with Government Departments, and working with European Energy organisations. For a period he was also a Trustee of a large occupational pension scheme.
A Freemason since 1996, Howard was appointed CEO of WLFC in 2021 after a 5 year spell as their CFO.
Derek Parkinson
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Derek studied medicine at Liverpool University, qualifying in 1975. He worked in Liverpool and Cardiff.
In 1986 he was appointed Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, and subsequently at Liverpool Women’s Hospital. He retired from medical practice in 2012.
Derek was the Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 2001, he was appointed PAGDC. In 2014 Derek was invested as Assistant Provincial Grand Master. He was the charities representative on the Provincial cabinet for five years. He was appointed vice chairman in April 2020.
Position Vacant
Vice Chairman
Colin Rowling
Director
After teacher training Colin taught in primary and secondary schools as well as Liverpool University.
Retiring in 2007 as head teacher of a Primary Training School, he was the senior external examiner to Bradford and Manchester Metropolitan University’s teacher training courses and chairman of John Moore’s University’s Partnership Board and the Merseyside and Cheshire Graduate Teacher Programme.
Colin has spent more than thirty years involvement with masonic charities, originally with the West Lancs Masonic Education Trust.
After the merger of the charities into one as the WLFC, he became a grant executive and subsequently Chairman of the Community Grants Executive.
John Gibbon
Director
After retiring from a career in local government, John now works as a Statutory Advocate, supporting people who may otherwise struggle to have their point of view considered in the complexities of the health and social care systems.
John holds professional qualifications in public administration from the University of Liverpool and senior management certification from the Institute of Leadership and Management.
He is experienced in quality assurance, budget management and chairing various local and national policy formulation groups. John has been actively involved with the charities in his current role as Vice Chairman of the Widnes Group.
Paul H Baines
Director
Paul holds the degree of Batchelor of Law with Honours and was called to the Bar at Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn as a non vocational barrister.
He served thirty years with Merseyside Police retiring as a detective superintendent, having been a senior investigating officer in regard to homicide and other serious crime.
He also carried out senior strategic management roles on a multi agency basis. Paul has worked as a volunteer in the charity for 19 years in various roles, primarily as a grant executive, being appointed as a Trustee in June 2022.
Ian T Sanderson
Director