The Masonic Charitable Foundation has donated £8,465 to help Hertfordshire hospices during the pandemic

The foundation – the Freemasons' charity – awarded £1,660 to Peace Hospice Care in Watford.

In May this year MCF, with Hospice UK, invited hospices who receive less than 60 per cent of their funding from the NHS to apply for a grant.

Garden House Hospice in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, was one of the successful applicants, receiving a grant of £1,660 towards delivering its vital community service.

In addition to grants for projects to local hospices administered by Hospice UK, the MCF is pleased to confirm it has awarded £300,000 in core funding grants to hospices across

England and Wales. In total, the Masonic community has awarded over £14 million to hospice care since 1984.

Claire Lunnon from Garden House Hospice Care said: "We're very grateful to the Masonic Charitable Foundation for their generous grant. We will use it to maintain and

expand our online exercise and physiotherapy classes, together with the chat groups that are helping with anxiety and other mental health issues during the pandemic."

Provincial Grand Master of Hertfordshire, Paul Gower, said: "I'm very pleased the Freemasons' charity has been able to support all of these hospices at a time when they need it the most. They do an outstanding job helping people with terminal or life-limiting conditions, as well as supporting their families through challenging times."

The full list of grants awarded to Hospices in Hertfordshire is:

  • Garden House Hospice in Letchworth Garden City - awarded £1,660
  • Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted - awarded £1,660
  • Isabel Hospice in Welwyn Garden City - awarded £1,440
  • Noah's Ark Children's Hospice in Barnet - awarded £1,545
  • Peace Hospice Care in Watford - awarded £1,660
  • The Pepper Foundation in Tring - awarded £500