Persimmon Homes Wessex has selected Wiltshire Search & Rescue as its latest Community Champion.

Representatives from one of the county’s most prominent housebuilders handed the cheque for £2,140 to organisation chair, Adrian, volunteer Flic, and welfare dog Susi at their headquarters in Devizes in the presence of Wiltshire Council leader, Cllr Ian Thorn.

The charity is a non-profit making organisation that relies on its own fundraising, along with donations, grants, and sponsorship from the public and companies. They do not receive regular statutory funding, whilst all its approximately 125 members are unpaid volunteers and make no charge for its services.

Wiltshire Search & Rescue’s primary work surrounds vulnerable and missing persons, locating them and bringing them to safety. Last year, they were called out to assist the emergency services 94 times, and its team gave over 25,000 voluntary hours.

Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme sees £700,000 donated to good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain each year. Recent local recipients include Warminster Athenaeum Trust, Trowbridge Town Council, and Chippenham RFC’s Under 10s.

The accredited five-star housebuilder has three live sites across Wiltshire – Oak Hill Rise in Chippenham, Highfield Gardens in Hilperton, and Jubilee Gardens in Warminster – and will soon begin construction at a major development in Trowbridge.

Pauline Fletcher – Persimmon Homes Wessex Sales Director – said:

“With three live sites, and more to come, across the county, it makes sense for Persimmon to lend a helping hand to Wiltshire Search & Rescue.

“We are very happy to choose them as our latest Community Champions – not for the first time – and are very proud to support them in their much-valued work.”

Adrian Sawyer – Chair of Wiltshire Search & Rescue – added:

“We are very grateful that Persimmon has decided to support us once again. With annual costs in the six figures, donations from organisations like this are incredibly valuable to us.

“The charity will be putting these funds towards new equipment that are always in need of replenishing, so we encourage any organisations who are keen to support us to get in touch.”

Cllr Ian Thorn – Leader of Wiltshire Council – commented:

“I am very much aware of Wiltshire Search & Rescue’s exceptional service in the community, so was delighted to hear that Persimmon have made another generous donation to them.

“It was a pleasure to meet representatives from both team, particularly Susie, and wish them both the very best in their future work.”