In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southport Group asked Eddie Thompson of Southport Temple Lodge No 7526 and Alan Cornes of Starkie Lodge No 1070 to oversee the distribution of a grant received from the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity (WLFC) in support of local foodbanks.
After researching the needs of the local community, Eddie and Alan identified around 10 foodbanks operating across the Southport and Formby areas. In consultation with the then group chairman Colin Jenkins, they agreed that the WLFC grant would be shared among these deserving organisations to ensure the widest possible benefit.
Recognising that demand continued to grow, they also encouraged additional donations from individual lodges and Freemasons across the Southport Group. These extra funds strengthened the initiative and provided greater flexibility, allowing support to be directed wherever it was most needed, beyond the scope of the original WLFC grant.
Since then, the project has grown significantly. In addition to supporting foodbanks, the team now supplies tea and coffee to several local ‘Warm Spaces’, community venues where anyone in need can enjoy a free hot drink, companionship and a welcoming environment. Their support has also expanded to include the local soup kitchen, which provides free meals for people experiencing homelessness. This involves purchasing and delivering essential supplies in bulk, including toiletries, toilet rolls, bottled water, hats, gloves, socks and other everyday items that can make a real difference to those living on the streets.
Another organisation they proudly support is the Christmas Shelter, which provides homeless and isolated people with a hot meal, friendship and a safe place to spend time during the festive season. The initiative also assists a local foodbank that works closely with a nearby school to tackle period poverty, ensuring young people have access to essential hygiene products.
Support extends further through Father Alti, who serves four local parishes. Working alongside the headteachers of four schools within those parishes, he identifies families facing hardship and helps ensure that assistance reaches children and parents who need it most. For Eddie and Alan, one of the highlights of every year is visiting three special educational needs schools dressed as the Easter bunny, making sure every child receives an Easter egg courtesy of the Southport Freemasons. This much-loved tradition is funded through an annual raffle, with all proceeds used to purchase the eggs. To date, more than 2,000 Easter eggs have been distributed, bringing smiles to 100’s of children and their families.
From the very beginning, Eddie and Alan made a conscious decision not to distribute cash directly to the organisations they support. Instead, they carry out what they affectionately call ‘The big shop’, spending several hours each month purchasing and delivering groceries, toiletries and other requested essentials to foodbanks and the Christmas Shelter. Every organisation has different needs, so shopping is based on tailored lists provided by each location, ensuring that every £1 spent has the greatest possible impact.
Where a shopping trip is not practical, such as with Father Alti’s parish network, they provide Aldi vouchers instead. These vouchers cannot be used to purchase alcohol or tobacco, but they allow recipients the dignity and independence of choosing their own groceries rather than relying solely on foodbank parcels.
During the past year, Eddie and Alan have also taken on responsibility for the Southport Group’s Community Engagement Programme. As part of this expanding role, discussions are currently underway with Southport Football Club to explore opportunities for partnership and collaboration, enabling both organisations to strengthen their charitable work and increase the positive impact they have across the local community.
What began as the distribution of a single charitable grant, has evolved into a year-round community support programme, driven by compassion, practical assistance and the dedication of volunteers determined to make a lasting difference to the lives of those who need it most.