SOUTH Lakeland Carers is appealing to all its friends and supporters to vote online to help the charity receive a £25,000 community award from the Freemasons.

As part of Freemasonry’s 300th anniversary celebrations, the Masonic Charitable Foundation is distributing £3 million pounds to 300 charities across the country, and South Lakeland Carers is one of those selected.

Each of the nominated charities will receive a grant, but the public vote will determine how much they receive, ranging from £4,000 to £25,000.

Those who want to vote should visit the MCF website mcf.org.uk/vote, select the Cumberland and Westmorland page and vote for the charity of their choice. The voting period runs until July 31.

Mike Seaton, Director at South Lakeland Carers, said: “A grant of £25,000 would make a huge difference to our work with carers of people with dementia. There are 700,000 people in the UK with dementia and this will double in the next 30 years. Coping with dementia is exhausting and isolating, as well as physically demanding.

"Carers are unable to relax or “switch off”. They can’t leave the person for whom they care so have little time for themselves.”  

“Since 2014, we have employed a specialist Dementia Support Co-Ordinator to work with Carers of people with dementia. Our work enables Carers to improve their health, feel more in control of their daily lives and continue in their caring role.

"There is a huge demand for this work and a lack of provision for carers with other services targeted at the person with dementia and not the person who cares for them. There are 700,000 people in the UK with dementia and this will double in the next 30 years.”

“I would urge anyone and everyone to go online and vote for South Lakeland Carers. Please remember that every single vote counts.”

The Masonic Charitable Foundation obtains all of its funding from Freemasons and their families. It is estimated that half of Freemasonry’s total charitable expenditure of over £33 million goes to charities that help people in communities across the country.

The Provincial Grand Master, Norman James Thompson, of the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland Freemasons, said: “We are proud to be able to support many charities across Cumberland and Westmorland, but in this special 300th anniversary year we want to involve the public, as well as local Freemasons, in deciding which of the nominated charities should benefit most. I urge everyone to visit the website and vote.”

To vote for South Lakeland Carers to win up to £25,000, visit mcf.org.uk/vote.  If you aren’t able to go online, you can phone South Lakeland Carers on 01539 815970 and register a phone vote.