Great outdoors group gains housebuilder's support

A Dartmoor project that gets youngsters out into the great outdoors is set to get off the ground thanks to a cash influx from a Cornwall housebuilder.

Persimmon Homes Cornwall has backed Clearbrook Wild Child with a £500 donation courtesy of Community Champions, a monthly scheme that rewards up to £2,000 to charities in the region.

The project - set up earlier this year – is based in the village of Clearbrook and encourages young people to embrace their rural surroundings.

Jamie Lee, founder of the group, said: “The aim of the project is to get girls and boys of all ages out and about in the wild.

“Activities we have planned include building your own bow and arrow, shooting star-watching, fire-building and outside cooking.

“It’s very rural around us in Clearbrook and there are very few organised activities for children and young people to do.

“Persimmon’s donation means our project can really take off so we can’t thank them enough.”

It adds to fundraising work already undertaken by the group, and Jamie in particular, raising over £200 by zip wiring over the Eden Project.

Jamie added: “It was a great experience and even better when raising some funds for the group. I even dressed up as Santa to get into the Christmas spirit!”

Daniel Heathcote, director in charge at Persimmon Homes Cornwall, said: “We’re so glad to make this donation because we can see how important Clearbrook Wild Child will be to young people in the region.

“This new project will give youngsters the opportunity to learn new skills and embrace their rural surroundings.”

The national housebuilder donates up to £2,000 to community groups and good causes each month, in every one its 29 regional business. That’s a total of almost £700,000 a year.

Groups apply for funding by visiting www.persimmonhomes.com/charity and then it’s down to Persimmon’s managing directors to select their winners.

Persimmon Homes Cornwall is currently building in Plymouth at its Palmerston Heights in Derriford.

To learn more about Clearbrook Wild Child, visit www.facebook.com/ClearbrookWildChild