Cranbrook pupil wins developer donation for poorly sister

A young girl from near Exeter entered a competition to name a new housing development – and inadvertently secured funding for her school.

Holleigh-Ellen from Cranbrook Education Campus chose “Maddison View” as her winning entry to name Persimmon Homes’ new sales outlet in honour of her younger sister, who was born in Bristol the previous year with congenital heart disease.

In addition to her £100 voucher prize, Holleigh-Ellen has secured funding from Persimmon’s Community Champions fund – which seeks to support good causes and much-valued institutions in the areas where the accredited five-star builder is active – with £2,000 going to Cranbrook Education Campus.

Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme sees £700,000 awarded across Britain each year. Recent local recipients include Cranbrook Town Council, Broadclyst Parish Council, Cranbrook FC, and Broadclyst FC.

The developer’s current development in Cranbrook, Galileo, is sold out but has two, three, and four-bed homes for sale from £239,995 at its Ashworth Place development in Tithebarn a few miles away. Persimmon’s live planning application for Cranbrook Town Centre is currently being considered by the local authority.

Holleigh-Ellen – pictured with Maddison, her mum Chelsea, and competition runners-up, Elsie and Theodore, – said “I would like to name the new development after my baby sister who was born in November. She had to be born in Bristol and have heart surgery. She’s never been to our home in Cranbrook – she’s still in hospital and we spent our Christmas in hospital with her. Her name is Maddison.

“I'd like to look out at the new development from school and feel happy that she's always going to be in Cranbrook with me even when she has to spend time in hospital.”

Persimmon Homes South West Sales Director Stacey Harris, added “We were really taken by Holleigh-Ellen’s entry to our competition to name our next Cranbrook outlet – should it be awarded planning permission – and felt that the business could not just award her efforts, but her support network too.

“So, Persimmon is delighted to be able to use its Community Champions scheme to award funding to Cranbrook Education Campus for all the work they do. We also wish Maddison and her family the very best with her treatment.”

Head of Cranbrook Education Campus, Stephen Farmer, commented “Holleigh-Ellen’s entry was both heartfelt and inspiring, and it has touched our whole school community. The strength and resilience shown by her family is truly inspirational and reflects the compassion that sits at the heart of Cranbrook Education Campus.

“We are also sincerely grateful to Persimmon Homes for their generous £2,000 donation. This funding will help us enhance opportunities and experiences for our pupils, supporting their learning and enrichment beyond the classroom. We send our very best wishes to Maddison and her family.”