Bournemouth, Charity | Posted on January 26th, 2026 | return to news

Freemasons raise £12,692 for the Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Lodges from across the South West raised the funds for items for the new Children’s Unit at a charity workshop.

Set to open this summer, the new Children’s Unit at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital has had a financial boost of £12,692 from local Masonic lodges.

Local lodge charity stewards and brethren from across the South West area gathered on Saturday 17 January to attend a charity workshop organised by the South West Area of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Freemasons.

The Freemasons presented their donation to Siobhan Harrington, chief executive of University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, joined by Karen Smith, senior charity manager, and Janine Golding, community fundraiser for University Hospitals Dorset NHS Charity.

These funds will directly enhance care and experiences for children and young people supported by University Hospitals Dorset’s Children’s Unit, as part of the charity’s ongoing BEACH Appeal.

This includes creating play areas, funding child-friendly artwork, investing in state-of-the-art equipment and transforming the top floor of the BEACH Building at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital before the Children’s Unit moves in later this year.

Mark Werner, South West Area chairman, said: “Supporting The BEACH Appeal is something we are proud to do. Its focus on enhancing care, comfort and dignity for those receiving treatment aligns closely with our own values of compassion, community support and service.

“It is especially meaningful for our members to be able to support an initiative that delivers such tangible and lasting benefits within local healthcare.”

Siobhan Harrington, University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, said: “This is a year of change for our hospitals, and I was very pleased to have the opportunity to share details of the benefits this will bring to our patients and our colleagues. Our BEACH Building will make a fantastic new home for our Children’s Unit, and the generosity of our local Masonic lodges will go a long way to support the care of our youngest patients.”

While the NHS funds the basics, it’s the donations to The BEACH Appeal that make a huge difference. From turning a balcony into a tranquil space for critically ill patients to funding play areas for children who are in hospital, The BEACH Appeal is already making waves and transforming clinical spaces.

To learn more and donate to The BEACH Appeal, please visit: www.uhdcharity.org/beachappeal.