A Wiltshire charity which provides bereavement support to Children and young people has received a £1,000 boost from Persimmon.

Wiltshire Treehouse, based in Swindon, was selected to receive the funding through the Persimmon Homes Building Futures scheme, which aims to support community groups working with under-18s.

The charity provides young people support during their grieving process, improving coping strategies, skills and confidence needed to better manage daily life.

Sarah Gillam from Wiltshire Treehouse said: “We believe every child and young person should have access to support during their grieving process. We are very grateful to Persimmon for this funding, which will help us to support those children grieving the loss of someone special in their life and the challenges that come with it.”

“We couldn’t do our work without the help of the local community and organisations such as persimmon. Especially given our recent expansion into North and Mid-Wiltshire, which means we need even more volunteers and supporters.”

“This funding will pay for four places on our bereavement support groups, where children and young people can better understand their own emotions and develop ways to cope with day to day life challenges. We hope to help them feel less isolated and accepted knowing that the death was not their fault and they should not feel blame or guilt.”

Building Futures will see £1 million given away across Britain to regional charities, groups, sports clubs and schools to improve local facilities and the delivery of vital community projects across three categories – education & arts, health and sport.

In addition to hundreds of local donations of £1,000, 96 initiatives will go on to compete for top prizes of £100,000 through a national online public vote with the overall winners announced in October.

Pauline Fletcher, sales and marketing director of Persimmon Homes Wessex, said: “We are so proud of the difference our Building Futures scheme can make to the grassroots organisations working every day within our local communities.”

In each sector – education & arts, health and sport – as well as a £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize, while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.