South West donation for innovative Somerset charity

Persimmon Homes South West behind the Hartnells Farm development in Taunton has lent a helping hand to a Somerset cycling charity.

Persimmon Homes South West has donated £1,000 to On Your Bike as part of our Community Champions initiative.

The key aim of the charity – originally formed in Wellington back in 2010 – is to train and support those who have suffered social exclusion and have physical disabilities and mental health problems, as well as ex-service personnel, ex-offenders, homeless and long-term unemployed.

On Your Bike work with them to refurbish unwanted bicycles – donated or rescued from landfill – which are then sold in shops. They have recycled and serviced thousands of bikes, supplying affordable bikes to the communities it serves in Taunton and Bridgwater.

The bike shop that also provides wraparound support provides beneficiaries with new skills, confidence, self-worth, and a desire to be a proactive part of the community through working in fully equipped workshops with support and supervision from its trained mechanics to refurbish unwanted bicycles.

Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme sees £700,000 donated to good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain each year. Recent local recipients include Taunton RFC Junior Section, West Monkton Parish Council, and Wellington Baptist Church’s Warm Place programme.

South West currently has three and four-bed homes for sale from £289,995 at its Hartnells Farm site in Taunton. Persimmon recently secured planning permission for the final phase of 90 homes on the site, which will mean 320 new homes for local people in the area once complete.

Commenting, Persimmon Homes South West Sales Director Stacey Harris said:

“On Your Bike is a great charity that does some wonderful, innovative work with some people who can really use a helping hand.

“When we found out about what they do, we at Persimmon felt they would be worthy recipients of funding from our Community Champions scheme, especially given our extensive presence in Taunton and across Somerset.”

Mike Southway, On Your Bike’s Vice-Chair of Trustees, added:

“We were delighted to hear that Persimmon were impressed by our work and thrilled that they wanted to donate to us.

“On Your Bike is proud of the way we give skills, confidence, a sense of self-worth, and a desire to be a proactive part of the community to people who feel like they have none of these.

“We want to thank Persimmon for their support which will go a long way in helping us carry out the work we love and will have a great effect in the community.”