Funding support for charity's community care

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 shopping and prescription doorstep deliveries and regular telephone support calls to around 500 vulnerable older people in the city.

“We are very grateful to receive this funding as have lost nearly half our income and even having furloughed our non-essential staff we are still losing money and struggling to maintain our services to some of the most vulnerable older people in Exeter.”

Persimmon Homes South West launched Community Champions in 2015 with a view to helping community groups, charities and good causes across Devon and Somerset,

However, as the nation continues 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 came into effect from April.

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 Hart, director in charge of Persimmon Homes South West, said: “We are fortunate to be able to support our communities and give back in the areas in which we are building.

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