Northampton Saints charity picked for £1,000 grant from housebuilder

Northampton Saints' charity working with disadvantaged young people in the town has been selected for a £1,000 grant by a developer.

Northampton Saints Foundation will receive the funding from Persimmon Homes' Community Champions scheme, which supports grassroots groups and charities in the areas where the company is building.

Claire Dearsley, sales director at Persimmon Homes Midlands, said: “Community Champions was established to help voluntary organisations to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of local people in their own neighbourhoods – and this charity certainly does that.

“The Northampton Saints Foundation works with some of the most disaffected and disadvantaged young people in our community, many of whom have been excluded from mainstream education, helping them to develop the skills and confidence to make positive life choices.

“The donation they are receiving through Community Champions will help to fund rewarding experiences to further incentivise these youngsters to re-engage with education or training.

"We are very proud to be supporting such a worthwhile project.”

Northampton Saints Foundation takes the values of the rugby club and applies them to a range of programmes to create life-changing opportunities for young people.

The aim of the organisation is to improve motivation, self-esteem and aspiration using teamwork, respect, discipline and sportsmanship to help young people back into education, training, apprenticeships or employment.

They currently support more than 5,000 students across Northamptonshire every year.

Persimmon – which has new homes developments across Northamptonshire including the major Scholars Green site in the town – makes two donations of up to £1,000 every month to groups and charities.

Claire added: “We’ve made it really simple to apply for funding, and we’re urging good causes and charities to apply for next month’s donation by completing an online form at persimmonhomes.com/charity.”