A hospice has received important donation during a “critical time”.

St Luke’s Hospice received a £2,500 donation from the Provincial Grand Lode of Mark Master Masons of Middlesex at their annual provincial meeting on October 23.

The Grand Master, Eddy Garty, met with his deputy David White and assistant provincial grand master Peter Hyde at St Luke’s Hospice to learn more about the care provided and to present their donation.

Rachel Wagstaff, director of fundraising, said: “As a result of funding shortfalls, the hospice has sadly made several nurses redundant over recent months. This greatly appreciated donation truly comes at a critical time for St Luke’s.

“We rely on the kind support of the local community and we are indebted to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Middlesex for their continued generosity over the last five years. It is through support like theirs that we are able to continue to provide free end of life care in Harrow and Brent.”

The donation comes weeks after the hospice called on the community to help protect St Luke’s ability to provide high quality end of life care.

St Luke’s previously announced they had to cut their free care home support service team due to the current hospice funding crisis.

Only a third of funding for the hospice comes from the NHS, with the hospice needing to raise over £3million each year to keep its services running.

Since 2014, the Mark Master Masons of Middlesex have raised £25,000 for the hospice. Mr Garty said they have been “proud” to support the “invaluable care” provided by St Luke’s Hospice.