A local initiative that delivers support and encouragement to those with a variety of different mental and physical challenges has received £1,000 from North Midlands as part of its Community Champions scheme.

Thrive, based in Leicestershire, is a project run by the charitable organisation Without Walls and consists of two community initiatives; The Singing Cafe and Tea Parties. 

Both schemes aim to address vulnerability and social welfare, including mental health and social isolation through a wide range of activities.

Richard Stanley, from the charity, said: “On behalf of everyone at Without Walls I’d like to say a huge thank you to Persimmon Homes for this generous donation because it will help us continue running our projects in 2022.

“We run singing cafes in six different venues across the county aimed at helping people with mental health challenges including Dementia and social isolation. We also offer tea parties which are designed to help the elderly with mental health challenges and loneliness.

“Both the singing cafes and the tea parties have lots of common benefits, helping people engage socially and feel connected. The singing cafes have also been online via zoom since April 2020 precipitated by the long months of limited contact.

“The tea parties happen at our charity facility in Stanton and we have added to this a shopping, telephoning and visiting service, as well introducing medical appointment transport.

“Both arms of the project have enabled us to reach and help many local people, ranging from those who are physically and mentally challenged to those who are isolated, suffering with severe loneliness, with many of our guests accessing both arms of the project.

“The singing cafes are now in their ninth year and are well established. The tea party community is in its fifth year and this donation from Persimmon will help secure our long-term future.”

Nadine O''Dowd, sales director at North Midlands, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Without Walls with our Community Champions funding this month.

“The Thrive project is an absolutely fantastic idea and it’s great to hear how the team helps so many people across Leicestershire who suffer with a variety of different mental and physical challenges.

“It’s really important after everything that’s happened with the pandemic that we all get back socialising in safe environments and I’m sure this money will be put to great use.”