A donation of £1,600 has been made to  Next Steps Ryedale to help men at risk of social isolation.

Helmsley Lodge made a £750 donation to Next Steps Ryedale for the charity's Men in Sheds service, which was increased by a £500 contribution from the Freemasons Charity Yorkshire North and East Ridings CIO and a further £350 grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

Next Steps has been providing support for people experiencing mental health issues for over 22 years, based around a 'Drop-In Centre' and cafe in Norton and small satellite services in Pickering, Kirkbymoorside and Helmsley.

In providing this support the aim is to involve service users, either self-referred or referred from the local Community Mental Health team, their GP, local networking agencies and Ryedale Carers Support, in operating the service and in deciding what it does both in a way of responding to their needs and as a way of helping them take control of their lives.

The services which are provided include ‘Men in Sheds’ where a weekly supervised activity group for men at risk of social isolation, who for whatever reason are low in self-confidence have an opportunity to use and share their skills and issues with others in similar situations.

Opportunities for helpers at the Men in Sheds, where numbers are beginning to build again post COVID are always available, and a close link has subsequently developed between Helmsley Lodge and Next Steps for the future.

Leisa Burniston, Next Steps Service Manager, said “This donation will go a long way to ensuring that the Men in Sheds service will continue to be provided for some time to come. Without support from Organisations such as the Masonic Charities, services would cease and people could fall into crisis”.

Master of Helmsley Lodge Nigel Hughes, said: "This is part of what Freemasonry is all about – engaging with the local community and helping in any way that we can."

For more information on Next Steps go to https://www.nextstepsryedale.co.uk/