Community donation helps tackle loneliness and isolation across West Midlands

West Midlands has donated £3,000 to Shrewsbury-based charity Omega – Ending Isolation, Ending Loneliness – through its Community Champions scheme.

The donation will help Omega deliver and expand its Chatterbox telephone befriending service across the West Midlands, matching socially isolated individuals with volunteer befrienders who provide weekly friendly calls, companionship and a vital sense of connection to people who may otherwise have little or no regular social contact.

The £3,000 funding will help provide more than 550 calls over the coming year.

Our donation reflects its commitment to supporting the communities where it builds. In Shrewsbury, the housebuilder is delivering its Gardeners Walk development, creating 226 new homes with public open space and major investment in local infrastructure.

The donation was formally presented to Omega by Councillor Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader of Shropshire Council and Ward Councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, and Joe Turner, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes West Midlands.

David Crosby, Director of Omega - Ending Isolation Ending Loneliness, commented:

"We are delighted to received £3,000 from Persimmon Homes to help Omega deliver and expand our telephone befriending service, Chatterbox, in the West Midlands.

Through Chatterbox, volunteer befrienders can provide a much-needed sense of community and connection. For some people, their weekly calls through Chatterbox can be the only regular social contact they have, and this donation will help us to reach more clients every week."

Councillor Alex Wagner, Deputy Leader of Shropshire Council and Ward Councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, added:

“Omega is a truly remarkable charity, headquartered in Shrewsbury but making a difference to lives across the UK. Its work tackling loneliness and social isolation provides vital friendship, support and connection for people who might otherwise feel forgotten or alone.

This generous Community Champions grant from Persimmon will help Omega reach even more people in need, strengthening communities and improving wellbeing. I am delighted to see this investment in such an outstanding organisation and the life-changing work it does every day."

Joe Turner, Managing Director Midlands, commented: "We are delighted to support Omega through our Community Champions scheme. The work they do to tackle loneliness and bring people together is truly invaluable, and it is fantastic to see the positive impact services like Chatterbox have across the local community.

We're committed to making a positive contribution to the areas in which we build and supporting local organisations that improve residents’ lives. We hope this donation helps even more people access the companionship and support they need."