Mark Benevolent Fund Grant £16,908 to Martha Trust

Martha Trust has been granted £16,908 by the Mark Benevolent Fund. The charity supports people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) at their facilities at Deal in Kent and Hastings in Sussex, providing a home for life as well as respite care.

Our Provincial Grand Master Archie Torrance, accompanied by his counterpart Roger Richardson, Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Province of Sussex, came together at the charity’s Deal hospice on September 17th to support the grant.

This substantial grant will pay for 14 specialist beds, which are designed especially to accommodate the needs of the residents at Martha Trust across Kent and Sussex with profound physical and multiple learning disabilities.

R.W. Bro. Archie commented “As the Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Province of Kent and as a trustee of the Mark Benevolent fund it was a great pleasure to be able to formally present Martha Trust with a grant from the Mark Benevolent Fund during our visit to their premises at Hacklinge, Deal. The work they do in support of those in need is first class and I am proud that the MBF has been able to assist by purchasing the specialist beds required. I am grateful to Julie Gayler and Kerry Banks BEM for hosting our visit and to R.W. Bro. Roger Richardson, Prov.G.M. Sussex, W. Bros. Ivor Bennett and Brian Ward for being part of the presentation party.”

R.W. Bro. Roger continued “In these uncertain and unprecedented times, inspiring charities such as the Martha Trust, are really feeling the pinch due to the restrictions on fundraising, essential to the lifelong work of the trust. I am therefore proud to represent the Mark Masons of Sussex in this joint presentation with the Mark Masons of Kent, with this grant for essential equipment in support of Martha Trust locations in Kent and Sussex.”

Deputy CEO and Home Manager, Julie Gayler said “We are incredibly grateful to The Mark Benevolent Fund for their generous support in the purchase of new specialist beds for our homes in Kent and East Sussex. It is vital that we are able to provide the required specification of bed for all our residents, some of which are of bespoke design. This kind donation will truly benefit everyone who lives at Martha Trust.”