Four Yorkshire charities have received an early Christmas present from a local housebuilder.

St Leonard’s Hospice, York Foodbank and Brunswick Organic Nursery in Bishopthorpe, each received £1,000, with Selby, Black Cat Rescue given £500, as a festive donation from Persimmon Homes Yorkshire.

Each year, hundreds of local people with life limiting illnesses benefit from the specialist palliative care and support from the St Leonard’s Hospice team.

Dawn Clements, Director of Income Generation at St Leonard’s Hospice, said: “We are so grateful to Persimmon Homes for their kind donation.

“This year has, undoubtedly, been very challenging for fundraising and it’s thanks to the support and generosity of companies like Persimmon than we can continue to provide the best quality of care and support to our patients and their families.”

Adam Raffell from York Foodbank added: “The effect of the pandemic has very much increased demand for foodbanks. We are extremely grateful that Persimmon considered us for this generous donation. The funds will be used to help local people in crisis by providing food, advice and support.”

“We are grateful that Persimmon considered us for this generous donation. The funds will be used to help local people in crisis by providing food, advice and support.”

In addition, leading stillbirth and neonatal death charity in the UK, SANDS, was presented with a £1,500 donation.

With the current pandemic limiting charities’ traditional fundraising activities, the Fulford-based housebuilder wanted to bring some extra festive cheer to worthy causes that work tirelessly to support others.

Scott Waters, deputy managing director of Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: “Our popular Community Champions scheme, where we give up to £1,000 each month to two grassroots groups and charities in areas we are building, goes some way to support these hard working, and selfless groups.

“After such a difficult year, for so many, we felt a festive donation was also needed. My team selected the beneficiaries and I feel they choose well.

“May I remind other such groups to apply to our match-funding Community Champions scheme so we can continue to support as many good causes as we can.”

The online application to the Persimmon Homes Community Champions scheme can be found at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity