Wessex, behind the major Valley Park development in Didcot, has lent a helping hand to a local youth club in the town.

Persimmon Homes Wessex presented the £1,000 cheque to TRAIN at its headquarters in the middle of the Oxfordshire town as part of its Community Champions scheme.

TRAIN – whose motto is “Inspiring Young People” – also has a branch in Wallingford and undertakes mentoring, detached youth work, and runs leadership and social action courses as well as providing a safe and fun environment for young people in the area, especially those who face disadvantage or need extra support.

The organisation has been working with young people in South Oxfordshire for over two decades, embedding itself in the everyday spaces where young people spend their time.

TRAIN is rooted in voluntary, relationship-based youth work where trust is central. As a result, young people choose to engage with TRAIN and, over time, they see young people growing in confidence, re-engaging with education, and building more positive futures.

Persimmon donates £700,000 each year to good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain as part of its Community Champions initiative. Recent local recipients include Oxford Hospitals Charity, Projects Abroad, and Sustainable Didcot.

Persimmon is delivering half of the 4,254 homes coming to Valley Park, which will also be home to two primary schools, a SEN school, local centres, and sports facilities once complete. It has properties available for purchase from £199,995. Sister company, Charles Church, also has premium homes for sale on its outlet from £344,995.

Commenting, Persimmon Homes Wessex Sales Director Pauline Fletcher said:

“As a local developer that will have a significant presence in Didcot for years to come, Persimmon is determined to support great initiatives in the area that builds communities and provides a valuable service for residents, current and future.

“Therefore, we were delighted to receive TRAIN’s application for Community Champions funding and are more than pleased to donate to them so they can continue their fantastic work with young people in the town.”

Ben Drabble, Chief Executive of TRAIN, added:

“We are very grateful to Persimmon for their support through this donation. TRAIN’s work began 24 years ago in response to a lack of consistent, community-based provision for young people in Didcot, and over the last two decades our work has adapted to continue filling those gaps, working closely with the community to serve young people in the most effective ways.

“We work to provide a wide offer to young people in Didcot and Wallingford, helping them to get the right support in order to pursue fulfilling futures.”