Partner Article

Burgess Hill school benefit from housebuilder's donation

Children at a Burgess Hill school are jumping for joy after a donation from a leading UK housebuilder that will help build an all-new sensory garden.

Persimmon Homes Thames Valley has selected Southway Junior School to receive a £1,000 donation as a part of its Community Champions initiative, which seeks to support local groups and charities working to improve the quality of life or environment for the community.

The scheme invites local groups and charities to bid for cash from a £750,000 national fund, with two donations of up to £1,000 being made locally each month.

Southway Junior School, which has more than 300 pupils, plans to create the garden as a part of an outside learning environment. The space will encourage the school’s pupils to explore and play outside, with the aim of improving self-esteem while reducing stress and anxiety.

Pete Newbold, headteacher at Southway Junior School, said: “Our Home School Association and parental body have worked tremendously hard to fund our outdoor learning projects to date.

“We are truly grateful to Persimmon Homes for the £1,000 donation which has allowed us to continue developing the sensory garden project.

“The garden will provide even greater opportunities for the children to make the most of learning in the superb grounds we are fortunate to have here at Southway Junior School.”

It will feature an outdoor classroom, waterfall, dry river bed, board wall and wooden musical instruments.

Rachel Faulkner, sales director for Persimmon Homes Thames Valley, said: “We are very pleased to announce Southway Junior School as the latest beneficiary of our Community Champions scheme.

“The school looks after many children in the Burgess Hill area and we’re sure that their sensory garden project will be of great benefit to them.

“Persimmon Homes Thames Valley has had a fantastic response to its Community Champions scheme and it is always a tricky task to pick our winners each month.

“If applicants were unsuccessful last month, we urge them to visit the Persimmon Homes website and to try again and hopefully they will become our next Community Champion.”

Community groups, charities and good causes across the region have benefitted thanks to the donations from Persimmon Homes. Organisations can apply for funding by completing a simple online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ross Watson .