Groups working with under 18s across Birmingham could be in with a chance of scooping a share of £1million thanks to a major funding scheme launched today by a leading housebuilder.
Persimmon Homes is launching its national Building Futures programme in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association.
The scheme, being run locally by Persimmon Homes Central, aims to support community groups across three categories: sports, education & arts, and health.
Neil Williams, managing director for Persimmon Homes Central, said: “We are looking for groups, charities and individuals who have amazing ideas on how to spend the big cash prizes to come forward. We will consider anything from new clubhouses and kit, to education and arts centres, research and support.”
Monthly grants of £1,000 will be awarded across Persimmon’s 32 regional businesses to improve facilities and the delivery of vital grassroots community projects.
Building Futures is being delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation, which last year gave away £620,000 to support children’s sport.
This year’s scheme is aimed solely at community projects for people aged under 18 and targeted at grassroots sports groups, charities dealing with physical and mental health issues or awareness, as well as community arts and education projects.
In addition to the £1,000 monthly awards, three initiatives will go on to win £100,000 each through a national award scheme voted on by the public. The winners will be named at a gala dinner for finalists in October.
In each sector – sport, education & arts, and health – as well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize, while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.
Building Futures was launched at The Heart of England Community Boxing Club in Hinckley, just months after it received a £200,000 cheque from the Persimmon Foundation. The cash helped to save the club from collapse.
Young people at the club were treated to a sparring session with London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo as part of the Team GB link-up.
Anthony said: “Persimmon Homes and Team GB through Building Futures can change thousands of kids’ lives and that gets a massive thank you from me.”
Persimmon Homes is an official partner of Team GB as it prepares for Tokyo 2020 and beyond.
Neil Williams added: “Building Futures comes on the back of our hugely successful Healthy Communities, which recently gave away £600,000 to support youth sport.
“Our 2019 campaign is bigger and better than ever so that we can bring positive change to the lives of even more children. Not only have we upped our prize money to more than £1 million, we have moved the goalposts so that as well as sporting groups and clubs, we are able to support projects in health as well as education/arts.
“We are looking for groups, charities and individuals who have amazing ideas on how to spend the big cash prizes to come forward. We will consider anything from new clubhouses and kit, to education and arts centres, research and support.”
