Oakham's Freemasons raise vital funds for local emergency response services including the Air Ambulance and East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme. 

Old Oakhamian Freemasons Lodge has recently focused their fundraising efforts on local rescue services, donating £1,000 to the Air Ambulance based at East Midlands Airport. 

The air ambulance based at East Midlands Airport is a vital local resource that flies an average of 10 medical missions a day. It covers an area spanning Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland. 

The Air Ambulance receives no government or national lottery funding and relies entirely on donations such as this one from the Old Oakhamians. 

Due to the rural location of Rutland and its distance from major trauma centres, the Freemasons have recently been supporting similar charities in the area.  

Earlier in the year, the Leicestershire and Rutland Masons gave £18,000 to East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme (EMICS) to go towards a new fast response vehicle. Last year, £11,000 was also donated towards a new defibrillator. 

The Old Oakhamian Lodge has been operating since 1965 and meets four times a year at Oakham School. The Freemasons are a group focused on giving back to their community and reflecting their four key values: integrity, friendship, respect and service. 

For anyone interested in learning more about Freemasonry or the Old Oakhamian Lodge, there is more information available on the Lodge website.