Persimmon has celebrated two organisations working to support local people aged over 70 in East Anglia as ‘Community Champions’.

Cromwell House Care Home in Norwich and Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing have each been awarded £1,000 funding from Persimmon Homes Anglia to continue their good work.

Miniature Donkeys for Wellbeing is an extraordinary organisation that takes miniature donkeys on wellbeing visits to people with life limiting conditions. The majority of the visits are to care homes where they have provided animal therapy to more than 12,000 people. To continue this support during the Covid-19 lockdown, when visits are not possible, the group has developed donkey-themed activity packs to keep care home residents engaged. Persimmon’s donation will help to fund 40 of these packs. To find out more visit www.minidonks.org.uk.

MHA Cromwell House Care home provides round-the-clock residential care, nursing and residential dementia care for 38 residents. Persimmon’s donation will fund PPE equipment for staff, enabling the home to keep its medically vulnerable residents as safe as possible during the coronavirus pandemic. More information about MHA care can be found at www.mha.org.uk.

John Eldridge, director in charge, said: “We are pleased to be able to focus our Community Champions funding on groups and charities looking after the health and wellbeing of the over-70s in our region, and urge other such organisations to apply for this funding.”

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