Exeter builder's cash boost for community hub

A charity dedicated to improving the lives of residents in Paignton and the surrounding villages has been given a cash boost by a regional builder to help with its work.

Persimmon Homes South West, based in Exeter, donated £1,000 to the Thrive Project Community Hub through its Community Champions scheme.

The Thrive Project is a community hub run by unpaid volunteers. It offers support to approximately 60 people per week, in the guise of food, clothes, computer and phone use, care of address, activities, referrals, specialist drop ins, sourcing accommodation, goods, employment, community food boxes and more.

The charity applied for the donation to help expand their services to operate at weekends and to provide a regular Sunday film-screening.

Rachel Shephard, spokesperson for the Thrive Project, said: “We cannot thank Persimmon Homes enough for their support. We would like to address an obvious need by expanding our services to offer weekend provision.

“This will help alleviate social isolation and we have an aim to hire a screen and projector for Sunday movie afternoons or to offer art activities for example. It will make a massive difference to people’s lives in an incredibly deprived but special area.”

Robert Hart, director-in-charge of Persimmon Homes South West, said: “The Thrive Project clearly fulfils a need within the area and we are delighted that we have been able to support its work.”

Persimmon Homes South West launched Community Champions with a view to helping community groups, charities and good causes across Somerset, Devon and Dorset.

However, as the nation starts to feel the effect of the Covid-19 outbreak, the housebuilder feels that, at the moment, elderly communities are in the most need of support.

The change of direction will come into effect from April, with the donations for that month going to groups that work with and support the over-70s.

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.

Robert added: “We would urge any group working with older people to visit the Persimmon Homes website and to try and become our next Community Champion.”

To nominate and to find out about the terms and conditions visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity