Three regional charities 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.
Soft Touch Arts represented the education & arts category for Persimmon Homes North Midlands, Hinckley Town Tennis Club sport, and The Bodie Hodges Foundation health and were among the 96 organisations to reach the final stage of its Building Futures competition.
During April and May, Building Futures also gave away £1,000 each to 128 organisations supporting young people in sport, education & arts and health throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
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.
The three finalists representing Persimmon Homes North Midlands were each awarded £5,000.
Dan Endersby, director in charge at Persimmon Homes North Midlands, 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.”
The first, second and third prize winners were decided by a public vote and around 400,000 votes were cast.
The winners were announced during a virtual event, presented by Dame Katherine Grainger DBE, chair of UK Sport and Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, alongside Persimmon Homes Group CEO Dean Finch. The final was watched by around 1,500 people
The £100,000 prize winner in the sport category was Northampton Swimming Club, while Ringsfield Hall Eco Activity Centre secured the award for education & arts and The Children’s Hospital Charity won for health. The second prize of £50,000 went to KD Gymnastics for sport, North Music Trust at Sage Gateshead for education & arts and Little Hearts Matter for health. In third place, Afan Lido Ladies & Girls’ FC scooped £20,000 for sport, with Derian House Children’s Hospice receiving the health award and Refugee Action winning for education & arts.