DAWLISH Community Transport was one of 20 charities to benefit from the latest round of donations from Devon Freemasons.

The transport charity was granted £1,500 from the twice-yearly Freemasons WAKE Fund towards funding a new minibus.

The charity, proposed by the Vale of Haldon Lodge, was chosen to help support its work providing essential transport across Teignbridge for members of the community.

In 2023, an arson attack destroyed half the charity’s vehicle and this donation will help to replace the last of the vehicles which were lost.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team’s four groups received £1,500 to support their work covering 365 square miles of remote moorland as well as working with the police and other agencies to provide rescue services to the public when they need it most.

More than half the calls are to help searches for vulnerable and high risk missing people.

Dartmoor Rescue Teams get no direct Government funding to the £30,000 a year running costs are met through fundraising.

The Freemasons donation is being used to purchase a vacuum mattress which is used to immobilise casualties with suspected fractures and help transport them safely across rough terrain.

Twice a year, Freemasons from across Devon meet to support local organisations who require financial assistance including children’s charities, schools, youth centres and locally-based charities including hospices, hospital services and cancer charities.

The money is raised through a trust conceived by William Kneel, the Devonshire Provincial Grand Master from 1970 to 1984, the late owner of Kneels laundry and dry cleaners, now Johnsons.

This fund is named after him as the William Alexander Kneel Endowment Fund, or WAKE Fund.

Since the idea was initiated, the fund has grown through the continued generosity of Devonshire Freemasons and wise investments.

Today it stands at £2.3 million from which the trustees distribute the income generated, currently around £60,000 each year.

Anthony Eldred, Assistant Head of, and Charity Lead for, Devonshire Freemasons: ‘It was once again a great pleasure to welcome charities and community groups for the first of our annual charity distributions this year.

‘Grants totalling over 30,000 were presented to 20 deserving causes drawn from across the county, each sponsored by a Devonshire masonic lodge.

’It was a privilege to meet and chat with the charities’ representatives and contribute to the excellent work that they do in our communities.’

Nicholas Ball, Head of Devonshire Freemasons, said: ‘This is one of the highlights of our masonic calendar.

‘To be able to support small local charities who do so much for our communities is very special. It is so moving to hear about their efforts and the fantastic work that they do.’

Also receiving donations were Devon Carers, and organisation which identifies and encourages unpaid carers to take advice and support and helps more than 37,000 people in Devon through a variety of initiatives to ensure carers receive the support they require.

Exeter HopsicCare was another recipient to help support caring for those approaching the end of life.