Member Article

Charity gets welcome boost from housebuilder’s donation

A Wiltshire-based charity working with youngsters with who are facing challenges including special educational needs has been awarded a donation by Persimmon Homes.

Splash, which is located in Devizes, was selected by the housing firm’s Wessex business as its latest Community Champion. It has been given £960.

The charity designs out of school activities for vulnerable people aged between nine and 16 years of age to help raise self-esteem and confidence and divert those at risk of being involved in anti-social behaviour. They applied for funding via Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions initiative.

The Persimmon scheme began last year allowing charities and groups to apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match money they have already raised themselves.

Dawn Whiting, Splash programme coordinator at Splash, said: “It is well evidenced nationally and locally that engaging young people in activities in their leisure time is very positive.

“Self-esteem among young people improves, pressure is removed from families under stress and communities become more functional. “It is crucial we keep this work going and thanks to Persimmon Homes Wessex we are able to do just that and we’re grateful for their contribution to our cause.”

Pauline Fletcher, sales and marketing director for Persimmon Homes Wessex, said: “Splash have demonstrated so much hard work in helping young people in our community.

“The work that they do is so important to helping those in need and we wanted to do all we could to support them.

“As always it was a difficult decision to select our Community Champions but I would encourage any charity or organisation that missed out this time, even if they have won previously, to apply again.”

For more information and to apply for funding visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.

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