Hundreds of local families with a disabled child will receive advice and support from a team of expert advisers, thanks to a grant of £63,500 from West Kent Freemasons to We Are Beams.

Our Family Advice Service offer assistance on financial matters, education, health, transport and mobility issues, while also providing much-needed emotional support. They signpost families and provide the right advice to allow parents to make the best choices for their disabled children. In a recent survey, 96 per cent of parents said that Beams’ Family Advisors had a positive effect on their mental health and well-being.

The grant will also fund Family Advice Clinics, where families of children up to 19 years of age with multiple learning difficulties are often referred by healthcare practitioners. Family Advice has seen an influx of families moving into the Dartford area for example, many of whom have a high level of need. Parents are struggling to make contact with case officers, emails are not being responded to and it is very difficult to speak to anyone on the phone. The parents reach out to Beams when they are feeling desperate and stressed. This grant will help to alleviate some of that stress.

The Family Advice team is often the first call to Beams and then the family can be referred to other services. Children and young people often benefit from our short break holiday playschemes and family outings, and it is good for families to mix with others in a similar situation so that they can build friendships and offer each other support.

The grant from West Kent Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

Katrina Adams, Head of We Are Beams, said:

“We’re very grateful to West Kent Freemasons for their generous grant. This donation will have a huge impact on our children and families especially as our work has become much more complex since the national pandemic, and there is a higher level of need. We’re still experiencing children not in education, and are dealing with several cases of mental health issues. The donation will help us to offer our support to young people to help aid them back on the right track in life so that they are not excluded from society”

Mark Estaugh from West Kent Freemasons, said:

“I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help We Are Beams with this hugely valuable project helping local families with disabled children. This is a wonderful charity that does a great job using their experience and expertise to help these families navigate through official bureaucracy and obtain the support they need.”

Steve Rozier, West Kent Freemasons Head of Charity with one of the children.

Here’s a snapshot from the day.