Sparkle and other charities get a share of £50k from Freemasons

As part of celebrations to mark the 300th anniversary of the formation of the first Grand Lodge, a £3 million fund was set up to distribute grants across the country by the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

In June, Freemasons were urging the people of Gwent to vote online for local charities to receive a share of £50,000.

How many votes the four charities received would determine the donated sum of money - which ranged from £25,000, £15,000, £6,000 and £4,000.

Rogerstone-based Sparkle Appeal - which is the charity for the Serennu Children’s Centre - received the biggest amount of votes and is set to receive £25,000.

Chepstow and District Mencap group, who works with people with a learning disability, has been awarded the second biggest share of £15,000.

The Newport and Gwent Samaritans and Cyfannol Women’s Aid also received sums of £6,000 and £4,000 respectively.

The provincial grand master for Monmouthshire Freemasons, Richard Davies, said they were “delighted” to be helping local charities.

“We are delighted to be able to celebrate three hundred years of Freemasonry by helping four excellent local charities,” said Mr Davies.

“We’ve been active in charity work for all that time, but this is the first occasion we’ve asked the public to help us decide how to spend our money.

“We are very pleased that so many people took part in the vote.”

Anthony Halse, who is a Freemason and lives in Newport, said: “This is fantastic news for some of the local charities.

“The three million pound fund is being administered by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which obtains all of its funding from Freemasons, their families and friends.

“It is estimated that half of Freemasonry’s total charitable expenditure of more than £33m goes to charities that help people in communities across the country.”

The Monmouthshire Freemasons are expected to add further donations to other local charities at a special presentation evening on November, 24.