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People in the Hastings and St Leonards on Sea part of East Sussex will soon see a brand new four wheel drive St Michael’s Hospice car carrying out home visits in their area, thanks to the generosity of lodges from the masonic centres at Battle, Bexhill, Burwash, Rye and St Leonards. The lodges have been donating to fund the Dacia Duster vehicle since August last year and it was delivered to the hospice this week (4th Feb).

The distinctive vehicle, fully marked with the ‘Sussex Masonic Giving’ livery, similar to one donated to St Wilfrid’s Hospice Eastbourne in July last year, will enable the Hospice Home Service to more easily access their patients homes which in some cases are in very difficult to access, rural locations.

The money raised the East Sussex lodges has been matched by the Sussex Masonic Charity Foundation CIO.

Although no official presentation was able to take place due to the pandemic restrictions. A representative from the Hospice expressed their appreciation and said “St.Michaels Hospice are once again extremely grateful for the local Freemason’s continued support and this new vehicle will be a valuable asset for the Hospice”.

The Covid-19 lockdown and subsequent restrictions have seen increased numbers of domestic abuse across the country. In the first four weeks of lockdown in the UK, 16 women and girls were killed in suspected domestic homicides — more than triple the number from the same period in 2019 and In December combined call and web chat volumes for sexual violence helplines were over 200% above the pre pandemic baseline.

As Nicola Nicola Davies the Fundraising & Communications Manager for RISE, the Brighton based charity charity that supports people affected by domestic abuse and violence, notes ‘The last few months have been the most challenging in our charity’s history – we have coped with a sharp increase in the demand for our services at a time when major fundraising events have been cancelled’.

Recognising those additional pressures; and the increase in demand for services; the Sussex Masonic Charitable Foundation CIO has supported the charity with a grant of almost £10,000.

Foundation Chairman Michael Harris said “The work that RISE does in providing support during a time of personal crisis is ever more vital during these difficult times and I’m delighted that Sussex Freemasons are able to actively support their important work”.    

Commenting on the grant Nicola said ‘RISE would like to wholeheartedly thank Sussex Freemasons for such a generous donation, which will be spent on our essential work helping people rebuild their lives after domestic abuse’.

RISE volunteers wearing t-shirts with slogans that domestic abuse survivors came up with to illustrate the support they received from RISE.

Through the Freemasons’ COVID-19 Community Fund, the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF), the Freemasons’ charity, in partnership with Sussex Freemasons, has awarded its first round of grants to charities that are supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged communities through the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

This first round focuses on organisations supporting people who are homeless or vulnerably housed, and has seen 30 charities awarded grants totalling £843,384.

The Freemasons’ COVID-19 Community Fund raised over £1 million in donations from Freemasons, their family and friends, with all donations doubled by the MCF to help make a greater impact.

Thanks to Freemasonry’s generosity, many homeless and vulnerably-housed people will now be safe, healthy and supported throughout the pandemic and beyond.

The second round of funding through the Freemasons’ COVID-19 Community Fund will focus on charities supporting unpaid carers. An estimated 4.5 million people became unpaid carers as a result of COVID-19, bringing the total number to 13.6 million – however there was no additional financial support for people providing unpaid care to loved ones throughout the pandemic. Freemasonry, through our grants, will be instrumental in funding projects designed to support unpaid carers as the COVID-19 crisis continues to negatively impact their lives.