Phab is to receive a £4,000 Community Award from the Freemasons following an unprecedented public vote.
The charity was one of eight to be nominated by Freemasons in Surrey with local people voting to decide the level of their Award. They were part of 178,801 people who voted across England and Wales.
The Community Awards are a major part of Freemasonry’s 300th anniversary celebrations. The Masonic Charitable Foundation is distributing three million pounds to 300 charities across the country, with the public vote deciding on the range of Awards from £4,000 to £25,000.
Anne Joyce, Chief Operations Officer at Phab, said, “The grant we have been awarded following the public vote is hugely important. We are very grateful to all of our friends who took the trouble to support us. We plan to use this money to support our work with Phab Clubs across Surrey and for local disabled children and young people to take part in our exciting and challenging holiday projects at fully accessible outdoor activity centres next year”.
The Masonic Charitable Foundation obtains all of its funding from Freemasons, their families and friends. It is estimated that half of Freemasonry’s total charitable expenditure of over £33m goes to charities that help people in communities across the country.
Provincial Grand Master Ian Chandler from Surrey Freemasons said, “We are delighted so many people voted in Surrey. Phab was one of eight charities nominated by local Freemasons and I know they will use their £4,000 grant to continue with their outstanding work”.