SW charities win share of Persimmon's £1m Youth Charity giveaway

Three charities from Persimmon Homes’ South West region have been awarded a share of a £1 million fund supporting under-18s as a part of the hugely successful Persimmon Homes Building Futures campaign.

Ups and Downs South West, Families for Children and Stars Elite Cheer and Dance were among 96 organisations to reach the final stage of the Building Futures competition and were each awarded £5,000.

With £128,000 already awarded this year in £1,000 grants through Building Futures, the total prize pot was £1.073million.

Three finalists were each awarded the top prize of £100,000, three the second prize of £50,000 and three the third prize of £20,000. The remaining finalists were handed £5,000 each.

Stacey Harris, sales director for Persimmon Homes South West, said: “The Building Futures scheme has been a great success and it is wonderful to celebrate the fantastic work of so many organisations supporting young people in our communities.

“We have been overwhelmed by both the response to the competition and the hard work and dedication of those involved within all the groups here in the South West.”

The first, second and third prize winners were decided by a public vote and around 200,000 votes were cast.

The £100,000 prize winner in the sport category was Wotton Community Sports Foundation, while Change of Scene secured the award for education & arts and The Children's Hospital Charity won for health. The second prize of £50,000 went to Great Melton Cricket Club for sport, Warren Association Trust for education & arts and Senses Wellbeing Centre CIC for health. In third place, Newcastle Powerchair Football Club scooped £20,000 for sport, with Islastones Foundation receiving the health award and Sandwell Young Carers winning for education & arts.

The Persimmon Charitable Foundation and Team GB athletes Dani Rowe and Karen Bennett, selected the finalists after more than 2,500 clubs, groups and organisations entered the Building Futures competition.

While Building Futures 2021 has concluded, Persimmon continues to give away up to £64,000 every month through its Community Champions scheme. Applications for funding can be made at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity