Cheshire Freemasons Donate £30,000 to Save Domestic Abuse Charity
Cheshire, UK – In a generous effort to support the local community, Cheshire Freemasons have donated £30,000 to MyCWA (Cheshire Without Abuse), a domestic abuse charity facing potential closure due to the withdrawal of council funding in April 2025.
The donation, made in celebration of the Freemasons’ 300th year, marks an important milestone in MyCWA’s emergency appeal to raise £500,000 to sustain its vital services. MyCWA has been providing life-saving support to families in Cheshire since 1977 and helped nearly 4,000 adults and children impacted by domestic abuse last year alone.
Senior Cheshire Freemason Chris Renshaw expressed the importance of supporting local communities and the significance of protecting vulnerable families in the area. “Visiting MyCWA’s support centre showed us why specialist domestic abuse services are so crucial to our community. We saw first-hand how their dedicated team provides emergency support, safety, and hope to families in crisis. As Cheshire Freemasons mark our 300th anniversary, we’re proud that our 3,500 members across the region can help ensure some of these vital services continue.”
MyCWA’s Chief Executive Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie expressed her gratitude for the Freemasons’ donation and the overwhelming community support over the past two weeks. “After nearly 50 years of supporting families in Cheshire, this generosity shows just how much our community values these essential services. Our Crewe support centre and Macclesfield community hub are safe havens where people can access food, warmth, and specialist support when they need it most. These services can mean the difference between safety and returning to danger, and we will do everything in our power to keep our doors open for those who need us.”
The donation from Cheshire Freemasons, combined with community fundraising efforts, has reached the first £50,000 milestone. This ensures that key services such as support groups for survivors and children’s group sessions can continue. However, MyCWA still needs to raise £500,000 to sustain its full range of specialist services beyond April 2025, including emergency refuge accommodation, emergency provisions for families fleeing abuse, and specialist trauma recovery programs for adult survivors and children.
To support MyCWA’s emergency appeal, visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/savemycwa
For media inquiries, please contact:
media@mycwa.org.uk
