The London Masons and the Masonic Charitable Foundation have donated £10,000 to Islington Charity, Healthy Generations. Older people in and around Islington, many with dementia or special needs, are being given a chance to enjoy music and dancing and get some much needed exercise, thanks to a grant from London Freemasons to the Healthy Generations charity.

The £10,000 grant will help Healthy Generations in their work with older people by helping to reduce isolation and improving health and well-being across Islington and the surrounding areas. The charity was recently awarded a two-year grant by the Masonic Charitable Foundation to pay for an administrative assistant one day per week who will enable the charity develop the membership of their new Information Network which lets older people know where to find classes and events. Healthy Generations provides between 100-140 events each month for older people in community centres, care homes, libraries and sheltered housing projects across north London. 

Healthy Generations runs three projects: Music Generations – choirs, sing-a-longs, tea dances and music therapy; Fit Generations – remedial keep-fit (osteoporosis and arthritis), yoga, mindfulness and pilates; and Tech Generations – helping older people with computers and mobile phones. The charity is also part of Islington Council’s Active Communities Project Steering Committee, helping to improve usage of the council’s 37 community centres.

Peter Crockett, Co-ordinator of Healthy Generations said: “I’m very grateful to London Freemasons for their generous grant, which is already making a big difference. It’s helping us improve our administrative procedures, allowing us to focus more energy on helping more local older people.”  

Adrian Fox from London Freemasons said: “I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help with the wonderful work Healthy Generations do with older people in our community. Whether it’s keeping fit, having fun or assisting with essential modern technology, the lives of hundreds of older people have been made happier and healthier. This is another example of Freemasons supporting the London community. This donation follows on from a £1,250,000 donation, of a £2.5 million funding pledge from London Freemasons to London Fire Brigade. The funding will provide London Fire Brigade with two extended height aerial vehicles.”