Freemasons of Devonshire, celebrating their three hundredth year, and the Masonic Charitable Foundation, donated a £1,580 to Rowcroft Hospice as part of their annual support of Hospices throughout the country.

This year, the Masonic Charitable Foundation will give grants totalling £600,000 to 245 hospices in England and Wales including nearly £10,000 to seven hospices in Devon, as part of the £12 million given since 1984. This includes £450,000 which has been distributed between all the hospices that receive less than two-thirds of their funding from the NHS. A further £150,000 will be provided to the national charity for hospice care, Hospice UK, in a pilot partnership aimed at developing and extending bereavement support services in hospices

The freemasons have been long term supporters of Rowcroft Hospice. Including individual donations made by many of the 133 lodges throughout the county and the Masonic Charitable foundation, they have donated over £107,000 since 2000.

On receiving the certificate, Debbi Shotton, community fundraising officer for the hospice said: “We are so grateful for the continued support of The Masonic Charitable Foundation. We care for over 2000 patients and their loved ones every year across the 300 square miles of South Devon. In addition to our inpatient unit, our specialist palliative care nurses and community teams visit patients in their own homes, providing care and compassion where it is needed the most.

“It currently costs over £8 million to run Rowcroft’s extensive services and we have to raise over nearly three-quarters of this ourselves. We rely heavily on the incredible generosity of the local community.“

A spokesman for the hospice said: “Rowcroft Hospice have been serving the people of South Devon since 1982, helping to make every day the best day possible for patients with life-limiting illness, demonstrating real humanity in the delivery of end of life care to patients and equally importantly their families, enhancing lives to the end for thousands of people both at home and in the care of the hospice.”

The assistant provincial grand master Colin Gale, when presenting the certificate said “It is always a privilege for the freemasons to be able to support the work of Rowcroft Hospice and the work they do which is so valuable, not only to the patients but also to their families.