Help for community groups during lockdown.
Two Birmingham charities that have been supporting elderly people throughout the Coronavirus pandemic have both received donations from a regional housebuilder.
Sandwell Deaf Community Association received £900 from Persimmon Homes Central, while North Edgbaston Action Team received a £1,000, through the housebuilder’s Community Champions scheme.
Each month Persimmon donates up to £1,000 each to two groups or individuals. In April, all funds were diverted to support charities and organisations working with the Over-70s as the Covid-19 pandemic gripped the country. But from September 1, the scheme will once again be open to all community groups.
Sandwell Deaf Community Association is a charity led by deaf people that delivers specialist services for deaf people across the Black Country working with deaf, deafened, hard of hearing and people with a dual sensory loss.
Janine Lowe, from the Association, said: “Thank you so much to Persimmon Homes, the funding will go such a long way to helping our older services users to stay connected with us and others during the pandemic and further into the future.”
The money was used to buy tablets for more senior members of the community to enable them to connect with others via remote platforms thereby supporting their mental health and wellbeing by reducing the isolation they experienced. The tablets gave them the means to access online video sessions where they could communicate with each other.
Volunteers from North Edgbaston Action Team have been helping vulnerable members who were self-isolating, visiting foodbanks, picking up medicines and running errands.
Shahbon Hussain, from NEAT, said: “Thank you Persimmon Homes, through your support we will be able to provide help to the most vulnerable people in our community like our elderly members.”
Sarah Preston, Sales Director Designate for Persimmon Homes Central, said: “Since the outbreak of Covid-19, our Community Champions scheme has targeted 10 different organisations that support and help the over-70s.
“As we return to a new normal it is time to once again open up the scheme to all parts of our community, so we look forward to receiving nominations from anyone of any age who is doing good work that makes a difference to their community.”
To find out more information Community Champions, or to nominate a charity or organisation, visit here.
