Annual Review 2011/12 - Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT | 5
Making life better
for our residents
Message from the President
Willie E Shackell, CBE
Once again it is pleasing to report a successful year for the RMBI, with further improvements
to the standard of our accommodation, consolidation in staff training on dementia and
end-of-life care, the piloting of new IT systems for managing residents’ care plans and for
staff management, and a record year for legacy donations. These are all part of our plans
for making life better for our residents and reducing bureaucracy for our staff.
We are now four years into our
five-year plan for upgrading the
Homes and improving fire safety –
a plan that will have cost over £30
million, but one that will put us in
the forefront of care home provision.
By the end of 2012 the rebuilding of
James Terry Court in Croydon will be
complete and with it we will have 13
flats available for independent living.
We very much hope that Masons
and their dependants will wish to
occupy them as their new home.
Our staff continue to show great
loyalty and commitment to the RMBI
and to the residents. They have
borne the brunt of the upheaval
caused during the modernisation
programme, have embraced the
opportunity for training in dementia
and end-of-life care, and are
adapting well to the new IT systems.
We are most grateful to them all.
The Association of Friends groups
at each of our Homes continue to
enhance the lives of our residents
with many imaginative projects and
ideas. They are an essential element
of the RMBI family and show the
caring side of Freemasonry at
its best.
The central Friends of the RMBI,
through its Honour Roll and Annual
Ball, regularly provides over £35,000
a year to fund the RMBI holidays
for Annuitants. Our thanks are due
to VWBro Brian de Neut who has
chaired the Association with such
skill for the last three years and is
continuing for a further year.
Donations have held up well this
year with legacies of over £4 million.
Such gifts are so important to
the RMBI and your support in the
future would be much appreciated.
Our annual Festival was another
resounding success this year with
Leicestershire and Rutland achieving
the magnificent total of over
£1.7 million.
Finally, a word of thanks to the
Trustees who have the responsibility
for the future of the RMBI. Their
commitment, insight, knowledge,
advice and experience in their
various fields of expertise are
vital to our work.
Sincere thanks to you all for your
support and generosity.
“
I feel as though
everyone is a
friend.”
A resident at Barford Court, Hove
“
The staff are all
polite and friendly
and help in any
way.”
A resident at Prince George Duke of
Kent Court, Kent