Children's bereavement charity to receive £1,000 donation
Post bereavement children’s charity Balloons Devon is set to receive a £1,000 donation from an initiative operated by a leading regional housebuilder.
The Exeter based charity applied to the Persimmon Homes South West Community Champions scheme, which was set up to provide financial support to charities, organisations and good causes in the region.
Sara Bennett from Balloons Devon explains: “We provide pre and post-bereavement support to children and young people who are struggling with behavioural and psychological difficulties due to grief and the impact of loss. The death of a significant loved one is a critical, traumatic moment and those who go unsupported have poorer health and educational outcomes, are more likely to enter the criminal justice system and are prone to a range of psychological disturbances.
“The support we give mitigates against these negative health, educational and social outcomes, providing help to vulnerable bereaved children and young people. While we can’t prevent the trauma of the death of a loved one, we can intervene to support and help them to cope more positively with anticipated and actual loss.
“We’d like to thank Persimmon Homes South West for this donation which will be used for our care packaging service where we send comfort packages to families who have experienced a traumatic bereavement. These include snuggle objects, anxiety reduction toys, journals, story books and mindfulness wellbeing activities, as well as kits for families to create precious memories together such as memory boxes or planting a memory garden. Left alone, grieving families can find it very difficult to get these resources together, so this money is being put to very good use.”
Stacey Harris, sales director at Persimmon Homes South West, said: “Bereavement is always a difficult situation to deal with but for children and young people, losing a loved one can have a particularly devastating impact on them. The care packages Balloons Devon provide are a fantastic idea and we know our money is very well spent and will make a big difference to those who need it when facing such a tough time in their young lives.
“We’d like to take the opportunity to remind charities and good causes in our region to make an application to Community Champions – even if they’ve tried before and not been successful. Applications are made online, it is very easy to complete the form and they could easily find themselves receiving up to £1,000 next month.”
Each month the Exeter-based builder donates up to £2,000 to community groups across the region. This also happens across Persimmon’s other 31 operating areas, meaning up to £64,000 is dished out every single month – a total of £768,000 a year. Organisations can apply for funding by completing a simple online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity
