A £1,000 donation from Persimmon Midlands will help a Milton Keynes hospice to support children facing the death of someone important in their lives.

The housebuilder selected Willen Hospice to receive the funding through its Building Futures scheme, which supports organisations working with the under-18s.

The donation will help to buy specialist supplies and equipment for the therapeutic bereavement support work the hospice team does with children and young people.

Willen Hospice spokesperson Ellie Walsh said: “Children and young people's mental health has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and none more so than those we support who are facing the death of someone important in their lives.

“Children require specialist support to cope with the death of someone important to them. We do this through counselling and activities, which help children to process what is happening and have coping mechanisms for life.”

Willen Hospice provides compassionate, personal end of life care both at the hospice and in people’s homes – all free of charge. For more information visit www.willen-hospice.org.uk

Building Futures will deliver more than £1m to good causes across England, Scotland and Wales. The initiative aims to support community groups working with under-18s across three categories – education & arts, health and sport.

A total of 128 grants of £1,000 will be awarded across Persimmon’s 32 regional businesses to improve local facilities and the delivery of vital community projects.

Three initiatives will go on to win £100,000 each through a national online public vote. The winners will be named at a gala dinner for finalists in November.

In each sector – education & arts, health and sport – as well as the £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.

Simon McDonald, regional divisional director (Central), said: “Building Futures is all about supporting young people in our area, and the work of Willen Hospice is certainly worthy of our help.

“We’re accepting entries to the scheme until mid-August, so we’d urge more people to apply by visiting www.persimmonhomes.com/charity”