Developer supports eisteddfods across West Wales

Wales’ largest housebuilder has donated £2,500 to Wales’ biggest youth organisation.

Persimmon Homes presented the cheque to Urdd Gobaith Cymru at Yr Egin in Carmarthen, alongside county councillors Emlyn Schiavone and Tyssul Evans, after they successfully applied to the developer’s Community Champions scheme.

The funds will go towards the Urdd’s regional eisteddfods in Pembrokeshire, Swansea county, Carmarthenshire, and Neath Port Talbot early next year.

Founded in 1922, the Urdd gives young people across the nation an opportunity to learn and socialise in Welsh, offering experiences in community, sports, and youth work that encompass residential, humanitarian, outdoor, and international placements as well as the arts.

It also offers apprenticeships, training, and volunteering opportunities. Over 4.5 million young people in Wales have benefited from its services over the last century.

Persimmon’s Community Champions initiative sees £48,000 donated to good causes and much-valued organisations in Wales every year. Recent local recipients include the Young Farmers Club Eisteddfod, Pontarddulais RFC, Wales Women's Deaf Rugby, Saundersfoot New Years Day Swim, Gorseinon Cricket Club, and Carmarthen & Cross Hands Autistic Association.

The accredited five-star developer has sites in Gorseinon, Llanilid, Pembrey, Saundersfoot, and just around the corner from Yr Egin in Carmarthen, with prices starting at £205,000.

Sharon Bouhali, Persimmon Homes West Wales’ sales director, said:

“As a proud Welsh housebuilder, we are delighted to be supporting an organisation like the Urdd that has done so much to enrich the lives of children across Wales for over a century.

“Persimmon has a significant presence in the region where the eisteddfods we are funding are taking place and we hope to see many of our present and future residents in attendance.”

Elen Evans, the Urdd’s Community Manager in South Wales added:

“We are incredibly grateful to Persimmon Homes for their generous support of the Urdd’s regional eisteddfods across West Wales. This contribution will help further ensure that the region’s children and young people have the opportunity to take part in valuable cultural experiences, develop new skills, and build confidence through the medium of Welsh.

“Partnerships like this are vital in enabling us to continue providing opportunities that make a real difference to the lives of young people in our communities, and we look forward to welcoming competitors and their families to the eisteddfods next year.”

Cllr Emlyn Schiavone, County Councillor for Carmarthen Town West and Cabinet Member for Homes, commented:

“The Urdd is a brilliant, much-loved institution with a presence in every community across Wales, especially in Carmarthen, so it is truly heartening to see Persimmon support them like this.

“Persimmon is constructing hundreds of homes for local people in my ward and their donations in the area are testament to their desire to leave a positive and lasting legacy where they build.”

Cllr Tyssul Evans, Chair of Carmarthen County Council’s Planning Committee, also said:

“As a councillor who examines many planning applications, it is a pleasure to see a developer go the extra mile to support local, cultural institutions, going further than their legal obligations.

“I thank Persimmon and the Urdd for inviting me to this cheque presentation as I know it is greatly appreciated and will make a significant contribution to helping young people across West Wales.”