We've donated money to a Colchester hospice to help maintain a 24-hour helpline for patients.

St Helena Hospice was awarded £1,000 by Essex through its Community Champions scheme, which is supporting groups and charities across Essex with two donations of up to £1,000 available every month in the region.

The hospice is a local charity providing care and support to the people of north east Essex facing incurable illness and bereavement.

Fundraiser Lianne Keen said: “Fundraising during the pandemic has been challenging and we were thrilled to hear that Persimmon Homes had selected us to receive £1,000.  We rely heavily on donations from businesses such as this one and plan to use the funds to cover the costs associated with our SinglePoint service. “SinglePoint is a 24-hour phone line, offering patients, and their families and carers, a single point of contact where they can access expert advice and guidance at any time of the day or night. Having SinglePoint to call often means they do not have to call 999, thereby helping avoid unwanted hospital admissions.

“The service costs £500 a day to run and is a vital lifeline that enables patients to remain at home, where they want to be at the end of life, with their loved ones.”

Richard Hush, managing director at Essex, said: “Our Community Champions initiative was set up to support groups and charities in the communities that we are working and everyone in our team is proud to support St Helena Hospice and its dedication to helping people at such a vulnerable time in their lives.”

Essex currently has a development named Castellum Grange in Colchester featuring a range of new apartments and houses located on Mason Road.

To find out more information Community Champions, or to nominate a charity or organisation, visit https://www.persimmonhomes.com/community-champions.