Donation kick-starts schools fundraising drive

A school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent which is raising money to buy two minibuses has been given a donation from our South East region.

We kick-started the fundraising drive with a £4,000 grant to the Leigh Academy in Horsmonden.

The rural school has several active sports teams and with no transport available they are forced to rely on parents to transport children to sporting fixtures.

For other outings they have to hire expensive coaches but with two minibuses they could ensure pupils can take part in more events and trips, helping to broaden their horizons and educational experience.

We made the donation through our Community Champions scheme, designed to create a lasting legacy in the communities within which they building.

Attending a presentation at the school, Cllr Thomas Mobbs, Ward member for Rural Tunbridge Wells, said:

"We greatly welcome Persimmon Homes’ support for our community. Rural school transport remains a significant challenge, and this generous donation marks an important step toward helping the school secure the minibuses it urgently needs. 

“It’s encouraging to see developers contributing to local services, ensuring that new housing developments bring real, lasting benefits to the communities they become part of."

Headteacher Hayley Sharp added:

“We would like to thank Persimmon for this donation, this has set us on our fundraising journey and we will be working together as a school to build on this to enable our children to access the transport they need to attend sporting fixtures and other key events that will help enrich their education.”

Kerri Bland, Director of Land and Planning at Persimmon Homes South East, said:

“It was a pleasure to meet two of the school’s sports captains and hear what a difference these minibuses will make to the pupils right through the school. 

“We are delighted to have been able to support them at this early stage and give something back to the community here in Horsmonden.”

Earlier this year the South East business received the green light from councillors for 120 zero-carbon ready homes in the village. Wide areas of the site will be reserved as public open space, helping the development deliver a 20 per cent Biodiversity Net Gain and epitomising the fact this site sits within ‘The Garden of England’.