FREEMASONS VISIT LOCAL HOSPICES

St Michael’s Hospice, Harrogate and Martin House Children’s Hospice, Boston Spa received a visit from Freemasons in The Province of Yorkshire West Riding having been chosen to receive grants coming from the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF). St Michael’s received £1290 for and Martin House £1798. 
 
These grants are just two of 245 grants to hospices around the country from Freemasons. In total £600,000 will be donated to hospices all over England and Wales this year.
 
This includes £450,000 which will be distributed to each hospice that receives less than 65per cent funding from the NHS. A further £150,000 will be provided to individual hospices across England and Wales via Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice care.  MCF has a partnership with Hospice UK aimed at developing and extending bereavement support services in hospices. 
 
Contributions from Freemasons to hospices have exceeded £12 million in England and Wales since 1984 and are continuing to increase at a rate of £600,000 a year.
 
Paul Clarke, Assistant Provincial Grand Master (APGM), Doug Mills, Area 3 Provincial Charity Committee Chairman and several brethren from local Lodges enjoyed the kind hospitality whilst at both hospices with Olivia Fuller from St Michael’s Hospice saying “We’re very grateful to the Freemasons for their generous grant and continuing support for the work we do. Whilst Sarah Smith from Martin House Children’s Hospice made a similar response on receiving the MCF Certificate. 
 
In conclusion Paul Clarke said “We are all very pleased to have been able to assist  these hospices. They do an outstanding job helping people with terminal or life limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families through very difficult times.