Member Article

Funding boost for Durham Vineyard

A drop-in centre that helps vulnerable people across Durham has received a welcome fundraising boost after a £1,000 donation from Persimmon Homes.

Durham Vineyard will use the funds to pay for a life skills tutor as well as supplies for literacy, numeracy and cooking tuition it provides at Brandon Community Centre.

Tina MacLellan, drop-in coordinator for Durham Vineyard, said: “We are extremely grateful to Persimmon for this generous donation, which will help residents facing the problems of economic deprivation and social isolation.

“The drop-in centre provides company, conversation and practical lessons for those most in need. Without support like this we wouldn’t be able to help those who attend the weekly drop-in.”

The cash injection from Persimmon Homes is made from the company’s Community Champions scheme, which is a pot of £24,000 to help fund and support local clubs, groups and good causes over the next 12 months.

Christine Cooper, sales and marketing director for Persimmon Homes Durham, said the scheme was a way of supporting people across every city, town and village where the company builds new homes.

She said: “Persimmon are pleased to make this donation to Durham Vineyard. We wish to play our part in supporting the local community and this service provides a vital lifeline for many people in the area.”

The Persimmon Community Champions scheme is a national programme where clubs, groups and good causes can apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match money they have already raised themselves. Nationwide the company will donate a total of £750,000.

Christine continued: “We’ve made it really simple to apply for funding, and we’re now urging people to apply for next month’s allocation by completing a form at www.persimmonhomes.com.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lee Southen .