Devonshire Freemasons donate £500 to Rowcroft Hospice South Devon

This year as part of their annual support of Hospices throughout the country the Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire W. Bro. Peter Keaty can be seen presenting a certificate denoting the £500 grant given on behalf of the Freemasons of Devonshire and the Masonic Charitable Foundation to Debbi Shotton Community Fundraising Officer for Rowcroft Hospice.

This year the Masonic Charitable Foundation will give grants totalling £600,000 to 245 hospices in England and Wales including £7,635 to seven hospices here in Devon, as part of the £13.4 million given since 1984. This includes £300,000 which has been distributed between all the hospices that receive less than 65% funding from the NHS. A further £300,000 will be granted to the national charity for hospice care, Hospice UK in a partnership aimed at developing and extending bereavement support services in hospice

The Freemasons have been long term supporters of Rowcroft Hospice and including individual donations made by many of the 131 Lodges that meet throughout the county combined with the Masonic Charitable foundation have donated over £112,000 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 sq 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 70% of that ourselves. We rely heavily on the incredible generosity of the local community.“ 

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 W. Bro. Peter Keaty, 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.