Presentation to Veterans
 
On the14th November Our Provincial Grand Master arrived in Liverpool to visit a special project for Veterans who had fallen on difficult times.
Colin Svenson, who has been Co-ordinating the Mark Masons weekend for West Lancashire Mark Masons, families and friends for many years, arranged the visit.
Through negotiations with hotels each year, monies are remaining after paying the hotel used. An agreement by a small working party arranges for a donation to be made to a deserving cause in the North West. The weekend normally has approximately 90 plus people attending. It has always been a policy not have raffles and therefore there is never a further call for money on those attending.
R.W.Bro Keith Beardmore arrived with his wife June to find more about the project and to present a cheque on behalf of West Lancashire Mark Master Masons.
The visit began with the clients of the project introducing them-selves, and giving a brief outline on the reason they are involved. All the people in the room spoke for one minute or less including our PGM and his wife, Colin Svenson and his wife Ann, Lisa who works at the local NHS medical Centre where most of the clients attend Jack Parker a local Mark Mason. This part of the day was very moving for all concerned. 
A cheque of £2,000 was presented by our PGM to Amy who received it with thanks on behalf of the project.
A small group then visited an allotment that is used in the project to enable clients to develop a number skill to help with recovery.
The Project Tom Harrison House is a specialist facility providing a 12- week addiction recovery programme exclusively to military veterans, reservists, emergency personnel, and their families. In meaningful partnership with other agencies, we provide trauma-informed addiction therapy through a "sensory and wellbeing" model of care, support, therapy and education.
Education and therapies initiate the changes to behaviour and thinking that are required to develop and sustain a life of abstinence-based recovery. On completion of the primary programme a second stage of continued support is available, providing a stepping stone between primary care and a return to independent living.
Words and pictures by Jack Parker