Builder acts to support youth drama group

A drama group for young people with disabilities in Devon and Cornwall has been granted £1,000 from a regional builder’s fund supporting under 18s.

Drama Express has been gifted the funds from Persimmon Homes Cornwall’s Building Futures initiative.

The group enables young people with complex disabilities the unique opportunity to access the performing arts through workshops and regular productions and the funds will be used to help members keep in touch remotely during Covid 19.

Simon Allison, for the group, said: “Thank you to the team in Cornwall for choosing us to receive the Building Futures award. It will enable us to provide an on-line virtual programme of activities in response to Covid-19 virus. The young people are Isolated through their vulnerability and will be reunited with their peers enjoying the positive experience of drama once more.”

Jane Cartwright, sales director for Persimmon Homes Cornwall, said: “We are fortunate to be able to support groups in the communities in which we are building and are delighted to be able to reunite the drama group as the members are all isolated.”

Building Futures is 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 (Track and Field) to launch the scheme.

A total of 128 grants of £1,000 will be awarded across Persimmon’s 32 regional businesses to improve local facilities and the delivery of vital community projects.

Three initiatives will go on to win £100,000 each through a national online public vote. The winners will be named at a gala dinner for finalists in October.

In each sector – education & arts, health and sport – 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.

Jane added: “Last year we supported WKUK (Plymouth), Newquay Surf Life Saving Club and the Zone Plymouth with Building Futures funding.

“We are looking for groups, charities and individuals to come forward with their amazing ideas on how to spend the big cash prizes. We will consider anything from new clubhouses and kit, to education and arts centres, medical research and support groups.”