Helping hand from housebuilder for Northampton charity helping older people

Older people across Northampton will benefit from a housebuilder’s community funding.

The Northampton branch of the Parkinson’s Disease Society has been selected to received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes to help fund projects to combat isolation and loneliness.

The housebuilder’s Community Champions initiative seeks to support grassroots groups and charities in areas where the company is building. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Persimmon has pledged to focus all its Community Champions funding to help the over-70s, who are most affected by the lockdown.

Claire Dearsley, sales director for Persimmon Homes Midlands, said: “Covid-19 is having a massive impact on older people, so we are pleased to support this organisation taking practical steps to support these members of our communities.”

The Parkinson’s Disease Society is setting up two projects to combat isolation for older people across Northamptonshire – regular phone calls from trained volunteers and lessons in using technology so people with Parkinson’s can contact families and friends through social media. All their normal fundraising activities were stopped by the pandemic, so Persimmon’s donation will help to cover the cost of these initiatives.

Persimmon Homes Midlands makes two donations of up to £1,000 every month. The online application form can be found at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity