EIGHT charities in Devon, including one based in Winkleigh, have benefited from a series of special Community Awards from Devonshire Freemasons.

The Community Awards are a major part of Freemasonry’s 300th anniversary celebrations.

The Masonic Charitable Foundation is distributing £3 million to 300 charities across the country, with the public vote deciding on the range of awards from £4,000 to £25,000.

Winkleigh Relief in Need, a charity that funds people less well off in the parish, received a donation of £4,000.

The charities main focus to relieve residents in the area who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress and will use the money donated from the Freemasons to continue its work.

Community Awards in Devon were also given to the Community Housing Aid in Exeter, Jeremiah’s Journey (Plymouth), Heartswell South West, Dream-A-Way (Exminster), Devon Freewheelers in Honiton, Erme Valley Riding for the Disabled in Ugborough and North Devon Against Domestic Abuse.

The charities were presented with their awards at a special ceremony on Tuesday, September 12 at the Mount Edgcumbe Masonic Hall in Plymouth.

The £3million fund is being administered by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which obtains all of its funding from Freemasons, their families and friends. 

The Provincial Grand Master, Ian Kingsbury JP, said: ‘We are delighted to be able to celebrate three hundred years of Freemasonry by helping eight excellent local charities. 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 from Devonshire took part in the vote.’

Pictured is Ian Kingsbury of Winkleigh Relief in Need with Clive Eden, Devon Freemasons.