#Charity

Bristol-based charity Legs4Africa raises awareness for World Mental Health Day through a worldwide fundraising campaign, Leg Up. This campaign, which launched last month, shines a light on the challenges faced by people with limb loss here in the UK whilst ensuring people with limb differences in The Gambia are able to access vital emotional services to support their needs.

With around 120,000 people in The Gambia suffering from mental illness, and only around 10% of those getting treatment, mental health is a serious problem in this sub-Saharan African country. Unfortunately, with...

Happy Days Exeter hosted a 30th Birthday Party on Saturday 4th September to raise essential funds for a local children’s hospice while also celebrating 30 years of Happy Days.

The popular nursery located in the Peninsula Park Estate, adjacent to Rydon Lane, invited existing families from around Exeter to join staff and children for a garden party at the weekend. The day gave families a great opportunity to come together for a fantastic morning filled with engaging activities and tasty treats. As well as saying “Happy Birthday” to Happy Days Nurseries, they also raised funds for the...

West Country house builder Devonshire Homes has donated a further £2,900 to the William Wates Memorial Trust.

Following its donation of £1,000 back in January, this second donation from Devonshire Homes comes as the property market continues to boom. The vital funds have been raised through Devonshire Homes’ open-market sales where £50 is donated to the Trust for every sale.

The funds will help the Trust support projects that encourage young people experiencing severe disadvantage to keep away from a life of crime and violence, enabling them to fulfil their potential....

The Hollywood Director behind blockbuster films We Bought a Zoo, Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous, has become the first patron of the Dartmoor Zoological Society charity.

Cameron Crowe, the Director behind We Bought a Zoo which is based on zoo founder Benjamin Mee’s book of the same name, has pledged to support the charity with the use of his name, after taking a key interest in the zoo’s conservation work.

Cameron’s patronage will help the Dartmoor Zoological Society charity continue its vital work. Its mission is to provide a future where no animal species faces extinction...

A Devon charity offering disadvantaged children a taste of life on the farm has been handed £1,000 to support its work.

Farms for City Children, which was founded by author Michael Morpurgo and his wife Clare in 1976, has been awarded the donation from Persimmon Homes South West’s Community Champions fund, which sees two regional worthy causes awarded up to £1,000 each month.

Lisa Long, for the charity based in Huxham, near Exeter, said: “We provide residential breaks for young people at one of our three working farms. Children and their teachers live and work at the farms...

A leading housebuilder which has donated more than £300,000 to groups supporting people over 70 during the pandemic is re-opening its charity fund to all groups.

Persimmon Homes South West launched Community Champions in 2015 with a view to helping a wide range of community causes such as village halls, sports clubs, friendship groups and foodbanks across the region with two donations of up to £1,000 made locally every month.

However, as the nation began to feel the effect of the Covid-19 outbreak, the housebuilder refocused its efforts and supported elderly communities in...

A popular project to promote friendship, wellbeing and good mental health for older men has been awarded £1,000 from a leading builder’s Community Champions fund.

Bideford Men’s Shed project has been handed £1,000 from Persimmon Homes South West’s Community Champions fund to help fund more tools for the project which sees members make and mend items for the local community.

Brian Hopkins, who made the successful funding application, said: “Bideford Men’s Shed is a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending and about...

A charity supporting older people and helping them receive groceries and essential medication has been awarded £1,000 from a regional builder’s charity fund.

Age UK Exeter has been handed the funds by Persimmon Homes South West to help fund the doorstep delivery service and befriending project for older people in the city as its Community Champions scheme looks to assist the over 70s during Covid-19.

Martyn Rogers, for the charity, based in Cowick Street, Exeter, said: “Since the lockdown we have had to close all our group based activities and concentrate on providing...

A regional housebuilder has helped a local hospice meet the cost of maintaining its highest hygiene standards and protecting patients by naming it a Community Champion and awarding £1,000.

Hospiscare, which provides specialist palliative care to communities in Exeter, Mid and East Devon, each year supporting more than 2,000 patients was recognised by Persimmon Homes South West and its Community Champions scheme.

Carey Mckenzie, for Hospiscare, said: “Our ward patients are very poorly, and one of the fundamental requirements of good care is impeccable hygiene and infection...

The TAAG Community Centre was created from a derelict commercial garage 10 years ago and since then has been serving the local community with arts and well-being workshops, galleries and related facilities.

The Council planned to demolish it as part of their development plans but strong local support led to the building being offered to TAAG to buy.

This was agreed and fundraising was progressing well with half of the estimated £200k needed raised by the middle of March. Then the pandemic restrictions hit and all our fundraising stopped. As a result, we have had to switch...