On Wednesday, 27th September 2023, four Somerset Freemasons hiked 7 miles with teachers, students and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme team leads between Wells and Shepton Mallet in Somerset.
SEN (Special Educational Need) Students from The Mendip School, Shepton Mallet, hiked as part of their Bronze and Silver Awards.
DofE Somerset now includes the jointly arranged Freemason activities of Cycling and/or Hiking as part of their ‘Training Activity’, which forms part of their individual programme towards gaining an Award.
Somerset Freemasons provided all the hikers with T-shirts, which all proudly wore. The students, in particular, enjoyed the T-shirts and now look forward to wearing them socially and whilst engaged in future DofE events.
The hike started outside Wells Cathedral and then headed out to the ‘East Mendip Way’, following the route to Shepton Mallet, navigated by the students themselves, ably assisted by Somerset Freemasons Craig Harding and David Robbins, Simon Turner and Steve Collings. There was much discussion en route, including the formation of the longstanding support and partnership between the DofE Award Scheme and Freemasons in Somerset, who recently donated another £10k to the Somerset Bursary Fund. The hike also took in the newly opened stretch of the Strawberry Line by walking through the ‘Windsor Hill’ Tunnel.
The Bursary fund is a real lifeline to several students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate. It is clear from the three cycling and hiking events already held this year that Somerset’s Freemasons are helping to make a real difference to youngsters starting out in life by supporting the great work of the DofE Team in the county.
On returning to The Mendip School after the 4-hour hike, refreshments were provided by the school in their on-site ‘Greenfield Café’ open to the general public and used as a training environment.
Following the well-earned food and drinks, Somerset DofE Lead, Carol Authers, presented the Bronze and Silver awards to some students. Their excitement and proud smiling faces truly made the day! The partnership with the DofE Award Scheme was instigated many years ago and has been maintained by Ben Batley, Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Somerset’s Freemasons.
For the Freemasons involved on the day, the overwhelming highlight was witnessing the interaction between the teachers and SEN students.
Steve Collings said,
It was truly humbling to watch those inspirational teachers with the students. Their dedication is vital in helping the youngsters to make a positive start in society by providing them with a strong foundation.
