Persimmon Homes South West has donated £1,000 to YMCA South Devon as part of its Community Champions scheme. The housebuilder, behind the Inglewood development in Paignton, presented the cheque on-site to the charity alongside local Torbay councillor Cllr Alan Tyerman.
About YMCA South Devon
YMCA South Devon is a not-for-profit organisation that has served young people, families, and communities in Torbay and the South Hams for over a century. Its current base in Paignton, opened in 1969 by the Queen Mother, offers a range of services. These include an Alternative Provision for children struggling in mainstream school, providing social and emotional support to help them re-engage with education. The charity also runs a Nightstop project, offering safe overnight accommodation for young people in crisis. Additionally, it operates a registered nursery with access to woodland, gardens, a basketball court, a library, an indoor sports hall, and beach trips, as well as toddler and youth groups.
Community Champions Scheme
Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme allocates £700,000 annually to good causes across Britain. Recent local recipients include Paignton Cricket Club, South West Blood Bikes, National Coast Watch Torbay, the English Riviera Airshow, and Galmpton Whist Club.
Comments from Persimmon Homes
Stacey Harris, Sales Director at Persimmon Homes South West, said: “Persimmon’s central mission is to leave a positive and lasting legacy wherever we build. We do this not just through delivering much-needed homes but through supporting valued organisations in those areas. With nearly 400 high-quality properties in Paignton, we are delighted to support a century-old institution like YMCA South Devon. We hope this donation aids their valuable work.”
YMCA South Devon Response
John Currie, Community Development and Fundraising Lead for YMCA South Devon, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Persimmon Homes for their generous donation, which has enabled important improvements at our new premises. The funding has been used to install new fencing, creating safe and secure outdoor spaces for our nursery and youth provisions. We have also installed a new entrance gate to the nursery, ensuring a secure and welcoming environment for children and families. These improvements will make a lasting difference to the safety and development of the young people we support.”
Councillor’s View
Cllr Alan Tyerman, Torbay Councillor for Churston with Galmpton and Cabinet Member for Housing & Finance, commented: “Councillors across the country are always keen to see developers go above and beyond to help local charities as part of their community presence. I am very happy to see Persimmon doing this in Paignton through this donation to YMCA South Devon.”
