Launch of £1m fund for youth projects

Helping to launch the £1m scheme, sprinter Laviai Nielsen.

The Building Futures scheme aims to support organisations working with under-18s across three categories – education and arts, health and sport.

It has been set up by Persimmon Homes, the business behind the Holdingham Mead development near Sleaford.

Under the scheme, three finalists will be chosen from each of the Persimmon Homes’ 32 regional businesses – one for education and arts, one for health and one for sport.

Then, based on the results of a public vote, one cause in each category will receive £100,000 as first prize, £50,000 as second prize, and £20,000 as third prize. The other 87 shortlisted projects will then receive £5,000.

Alongside these sums, there will be smaller prizes of £1,000 up for grabs.

The money will go to grassroots sports groups, charities dealing with physical and mental health issues, as well as community arts and education projects.

Neil Follows, managing director for Persimmon Homes Nottingham, said: “As the country really starts to feel the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak, we believe that now more than ever we need to look after the health and wellbeing of the youngest and oldest members of our communities.

“Persimmon has already pledged to re-direct its Community Champions funding initiative towards groups that work with and support the over-70s for the duration of the pandemic crisis. Now, with the launch of Building Futures, we aim to help the younger members of our society.”

Building Futures is being delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association, and the company enlisted the help of World Championship silver medallist and Tokyo Olympic Games and Team GB hopeful Laviai Nielsen to launch the scheme.

The 24-year-old 400m sprinter said: “Persimmon Homes and Building Futures can change the lives of thousands of youngsters across Britain, so that gets a massive ‘thank you’ from me.”

To find out more about or to apply to Building Futures visit www.persimmonhomes.com/building-futures