Cambridgeshire Freemasons have once again demonstrated their commitment to supporting children and young people living with acquired brain injury (ABI) by hosting a special Christmas celebration for families supported by the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT).
The festive event, held at the Masonic Hall on Bateman Street in Cambridge, followed the announcement earlier this year of a £60,000 grant from Cambridgeshire Freemasons to CBIT. The funding, provided through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, will enable more than 350 children and young people with ABI to receive vital support over the next three years across the East of England and beyond.
Earlier in the year, representatives from Cambridgeshire Freemasons met Mia Jack and her family, alongside Nicola Bradley, ABI Coordinator from CBIT, during a visit to Milton Country Park. Mia, who sustained a brain injury at the age of 12 following a quadbike accident, shared her remarkable journey of recovery through poetry, music and personal reflection. Her mother, Angela, spoke movingly about the unwavering support CBIT has provided over the past six years, describing the charity as invaluable and a constant source of reassurance during an incredibly challenging time.
Every 15 minutes in the UK, a child or young person sustains a brain injury. Often hidden but profoundly life-changing, an ABI can impact learning, communication and emotional regulation, affecting not only the child but their entire family. CBIT works directly with families from diagnosis through to adulthood, offering emotional support, practical guidance and expert information, as well as delivering training for schools, health professionals and social workers to help create more inclusive environments.
Following discussions during the summer visit, CBIT expressed a wish to bring families together for a Christmas celebration, and Cambridgeshire Freemasons were delighted to help make it happen. The Masonic Hall was transformed into a festive space where children and families enjoyed decorating Christmas cookies, sharing a buffet, and a surprise visit from Santa Claus.
We are incredibly grateful to Cambridgeshire Freemasons for so generously opening their beautiful building to us and for providing such a warm and welcoming setting for our Christmas party. Events like this mean so much to the families we support, they offer an opportunity to come together, relax, and simply enjoy being a community. My thanks go to Tony Barrios, Michelle and Debbie at the Hall, who worked tirelessly with us to ensure everything ran smoothly. The joy and excitement on the children’s faces said it all.
— Nicola Bradley, ABI Coordinator at the Child Brain Injury Trust
Tony Barrios for Cambridgeshire Freemasons added: “Living with a brain injury presents daily challenges for children and their families, particularly when those needs are not always fully recognised. CBIT provides a vital lifeline, ensuring families are never left to face those challenges alone. We are immensely proud to support their work, not only through our recent donation, but by helping create moments of happiness and togetherness like this Christmas celebration.”
Amelia Larard, Head of Marketing and Fundraising at the Child Brain Injury Trust, previously highlighted the significance of the Freemasons’ support, noting that the funding allows CBIT to continue walking alongside families, empowering them with the tools, confidence and understanding needed to rebuild their futures.
