The Pengarth Day Centre in Penzance has been awarded a £10,000 grant from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

Provincial Grand Master for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly David Maskell, accompanied by one of his assistants Mike Pritchard, and the acting provincial charity Steward Alan Powell recently visited the centre to make a presentation to manager Sharon Mitchell.

The centre, which nestled at the top of Morrab Gardens, was originally opened in 1968 and operates as a drop-in centre for West Cornwall’s senior community, where visitors can sit and chat while enjoying various activities in a safe warm space.

The centre boasts a fully-equipped kitchen and are able to offer excellent value home cooked lunches both in house as well as an acclaimed home meal delivery service.

During the presentation Grand Master Maskell said: “The Masonic Charitable Foundation does a great deal of work for Masonic and non-Masonic charities throughout the world, which includes over a million pounds aid to Ukraine Refugee Appeal, but the foundation also looks after local charities.

“Pengarth is one of the centres we were able to help in 2019 with a smaller donation, and we are delighted that you have applied and been granted £10,000 this time”

Pengarth Day Centre manager Ms Mitchell said: “Before covid the centre was almost self-sufficient, due to the volume of services that people paid for, but because the numbers of people using the centre has dropped considerably we are relying on grants to fund about 30 per cent of our costs bridging the gap for the next two or three years, while numbers of people using the centre increases again to pre-covid levels.

“The money will enable us to continue to help provide the services for older people from the local community. This includes day care and transport, as well as meals on wheels which are supplied every day to keep the vulnerable healthy and at home.

“The grant application itself was very easy so I’d just like to thank Masonic Charitable Foundation ever so much, it’s been much appreciated.”