A charity providing specialist activity and leisure facilities for disabled children/ young people and their families is the first North East cause to be awarded £1,000 from Persimmon Homes funding scheme targeting youth projects for under 18s.

Pathways 4 All at the Tim Lamb Centre at the Rising Sun Country Park, in Benton, will receive £1,000 from the Building Futures initiative, launched in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association.

The centre offers a lifeline to families who are unable to use mainstream services due to lack of understanding, physical barriers or risk of safety due to children's vulnerability and challenging behaviours and the donation will fund an interactive sensory play panel for the children to enjoy.

The Building Futures scheme aims to support community groups working with under-18s across three categories – education & arts, health and sport.

Building Futures is delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association, and the company enlisted the help of Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Dani Rowe to launch the scheme.

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 grand final 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.

Applications close at midnight on August 15.

To find out more about Building Futures or to apply visit www.persimmonhomes.com/charity/building-futures