Rotarians have been handed a £1,000 boost to help grow plans for a public wellbeing garden at a volunteer centre.

Persimmon Homes North Midlands has gifted the funds to Shepshed and Charnwood Rotary through its Community Champions scheme.

The cash will be put towards constructing a new summerhouse, raised flower beds and a raised fishpond at the Shepshed Volunteer Centre, based in Charnwood Road, Loughborough.

Rotarian Michael Hall explained: “In the spring of 2016, the Rotary Club raised funds and provided the labour and materials to construct an area of the Sensory and Wellbeing Garden, but the shed currently being used as a quiet room, is now in poor condition and requires replacing with the summerhouse.

“Our club members will be providing the labour to construct the summerhouse in the garden and donating some of the funds needed to make purchases. In addition, we will also be responsible for the annual maintenance of the summerhouse and also the raised flower beds, a raised fishpond, seating and an area for wheelchair access.

“This is a very generous donation and will help us meet the cost of renovating the site and the purchase of the new summerhouse.”

Nadine O’Dowd, sales director for Persimmon Homes North Midlands, said: “We are delighted t be able to support the Rotarians as they strive to create and maintain this space in the community garden.

“Giving people a space to sit and reflect while being close to nature is definitely a worthy project and a shining example of our Community Champions scheme.”

Persimmon Homes’ national match-funding programme Community Champions seeks to support groups and charities working to improve the quality of life for local people.

Each month the Leicester-based builder donates up to £2,000 to community groups across the region. This also happens across Persimmon’s other 31 operating areas, meaning up to £64,000 is dished out every single month – a total of £768,000 a year.

However, as the nation starts to feel the effect of the Covid-19 outbreak, the housebuilder feels that, at the moment, elderly communities are in the most need of support. The change of direction came into effect from April.

Nadine added: “The Community Champions fund is all about giving back to the communities in which we build, and at the moment we are keen to focus on those who are most vulnerable to the effects of Covid-19.”

Visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity to apply.