Two organisations received $2,500 each from the charitable wing of the Freemasons on Thursday.

Keith Battersbee, the president of the Freemasons Fund for Bermuda, presented the cheques to Family Centre and the Scout Association of Bermuda.

Each Masonic Lodge on the island raised funds through events and individual donations.

Mr Battersbee said: “We hope [the money] will go some way towards helping you continue the special and compassionate services that you give to your individual charities.”

Family Centre, which supports children and families, is celebrating 35 years of operation.

Sandy De Silva, the executive director of the centre, said funds will benefit the charity’s counselling and outreach services, advocacy initiatives, Youth Leadership Academy, and Beyond Rugby and Beyond Yoga programmes.

“This goes a long way to ensure that all of that is offered at no cost to any person on this island,” Dr De Silva explained.

Nick Rowse, representing the Scout Association of Bermuda, said: “This money goes directly to the Scouts. There is no overhead of anything else, so everything that you give us will help run some programme dealing with the Scouts or Cub Scouts.”