OSM Charity Donations
 
On Friday the 24th April 2026, R.Wy.Bro John  Bicknell Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler for West Lancashire made presentations to several charities on behalf of Friendship Conclave No.332 and the West Lancs OSM Social Committee.
 
A donation of £200.00 was made to “Lancashire Cash for Kids” charity and “Rainbow Hub” in Mawdesley.  Both of these donations also received a donation from the OSM Benevolent Fund under the “Match Funding” making the total donation to each charity £400.00.
 
Emma Humphreys, representing Cash for Kids, said:
“We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and support and your donation of £400.00 will go towards our Impact Grants, which provide practical support for children who need it most. This can include:
• Warm clothing for children facing financial hardship
• Resources to support mental health and wellbeing
• Funding for sports and activities that build confidence and inclusion

Everything donated stays local right here in Lancashire, helping children and young people living in poverty across our communities. And with 6310 children living in poverty across Chorley in 2025, every donation means a lot to help us provide this practical support.”

If you would like to know more about the Cash for Kids Lancashire charity please visit their website https://cashforkids.org.uk/
 
Joanne Berends-Sheriff, representing Rainbow Hub said:
“I am delighted to receive the donation of £400.00 on behalf of Rainbow Hub and want to thank all the members of Friendship Conclave and the OSM Social Dinner Dance weekend as well as the OSM Benevolent Fund for their support.
Rainbow Hub is a charity that provides children and young people with physical disabilities as a result of a neurological condition or brain injury through our child brain injury rehabilitation services. 
 
Since 2001, the Charity has supported up to as many as 85 families per week with our child brain injury services, helping children to reach their full potential and gain more independence through fun, hands-on therapies, while giving their parents the vital support they deserve.
 
If you would like to know more about the Charity or make a donation yourself, please visit their website - https://rainbowhub.org/.
 
R.Wy. Bro. John Bicknell, Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler for West Lancashire is pictured with Joanne Berends-Sheriff (left) and Emma Humphreys (right)
 
R.Wy.Bro. John Bicknell also had the great pleasure on an early occasion of presenting a cheque on behalf of the OSM Social Dinner Dance Committee to “Tia’s Crown (Therapy In Action)” - a charity based on the Fylde coast - after being approached by Colleen Sawford and R.Wy.Bro. Walter Porter and was invited by Colleen to present the donation of £500.00 at a “Beginners Belly Dancing Class” which had been helping to raise fund for their class tutor, (Janine) who was herself raising funds on behalf of Tia’s Crown in 2025.
 
A further donation of £400.00 was recently made by the OSM Benevolent Fund under their “Match Funding” scheme which each Province could apply for a maximum of £1000.00 each year for donations made by Conclaves in the Province during the year.
 
Tia’s (Therapy In Action) Crown is a charity set up to support mental and physical wellbeing through dance. Tia’s Crown has been founded by dancers to give something back to local communities and organisations, especially where the need is most. The aim of the charity is to support people with poor mental and physical health through dance sessions in a safe environment where they may not previously have had access in the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre areas. 100% of donations go to the charity and they do not take any money for income etc….
 
Tia’s Crown charity began during lockdown 1, in early April 2020, when Ali, the creative director, had an idea to put on a public version of Strictly Come Dancing, to raise funds to give back and say thank you to the NHS workers that had been working front line during the Covid-19 battles. This has since developed and 2025 was the charity event’s fourth year which is a national audition process now open for anyone in the UK to apply to be one of the 12 finalists, being matched with a professional dancer to learn one dance in the Empress Ballroom at Blackpool Winter Gardens.
 
Janine has been one of the 2025 Dance Floor Hero’s finalists and fundraised to increase the profile of this local charity (based in Fleetwood). On 28th April Janine held a belly dancing class in her local community hall.  The teacher volunteered to facilitate the beginner belly dancing class. Janine’s ethos was to bring the community together and create an inclusive event for all, and was supported by her belly dancing friends. People paid to join the class, which all went directly to the charity – over 35 people joined in. On the night there was a raffle and cake sale in addition to the class and together we raised over £455.
 

R.Wy. Bro. John Bicknell, Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler West Lancashire is pictured with the Fylde Belly Dancing Class (Colleen Sawford on the extreme left)
 
Words and Photo's courtesy of John Bicknell