Freemasons in Ely have presented £1,348 to Highfield Ely Friends and Parents Association to support their ‘Muddy Boots Farm’ project. The donation was received by Head Teacher Adam Daws and parent/committee member Steph Rees along with one of the students who was hard at work collecting eggs.
The Academy provides education for children of all ages with a wide range of learning difficulties and helps them to develop the skills and abilities to take on the challenges this presents. The Highfield Friends and Parents Association provides strong parental input and provides additional support, especially outside the classroom where the challenges are equally important. Muddy Boots Farm is located within the school grounds, where a small barn and a pond are currently under construction. These will give students a chance to care for animals and go pond dipping in a safe environment.
Head Teacher, Adam Daws, explained: “Muddy Boots Farm enables our students to interact with animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and the two new goats, and changes the dynamics of their interactions with each other. Although the project is still in its early stages, it has started to make a big difference.”
The donation included match funding from the Masonic Charitable Foundation which is funded entirely through the generosity of Freemasons and their families and awards millions of pounds each year to local and national charities that help vulnerable people, advance medical research and provide opportunities for young people.
Notes to editors
Photographs show Ely Freemasons John Sinclair (l) and John Surbey (r) with Head Teacher Adam Daws, parent and committee member Steph Rees and one of the students.
About Cambridgeshire Freemasonry:
The Masonic Province of Cambridgeshire is relatively small, with Masonic Centres in Cambridge, Ely, Newmarket, March, Chatteris, Whittlesey and Wisbech. There are around 1500 Freemasons and 30 individual lodges. We pride ourselves on our friendliness and inclusivity, with members drawn from all walks of life and professional backgrounds. We welcome enquiries from anyone who is curious about our values and our history.
More information is available on our website and enquiries should be directed to our Provincial Office in Cambridge via https://www.cambridgeshirefreemasons.org.uk/
About the Masonic Charitable Foundation:
The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is one of the largest grant-making charities in the country. Funded entirely through the generosity of Freemasons and their families, the MCF awards millions of pounds each year to local and national charities that help vulnerable people, advance medical research and provide opportunities for young people. The MCF also helps to fund vital services such as hospices and air ambulances and regularly contributes to worldwide appeals for disaster relief. In total, MCF support helps to improve the lives of thousands of people every year in England, Wales and internationally. As well as providing grants to charities, the MCF supports Freemasons and their families with a financial, health or family need. Visit www.mcf.org.uk For further information about the Masonic Charitable Foundation, please contact Guy Roberts, Press Officer (