An in-demand service offering face-to-face counselling and therapy to young people dealing with bereavement and emotional difficulty will be able to extend their offering, thanks to a £3,000 donation.

Persimmon Homes East Midlands, based in Peterborough, has once again supported the Young People’s Counselling Service, enabling them to help even more youngsters in need.

Persimmon previously supported the charity with funding for their base in Yaxley, where they have created a homely environment for young people attending counselling so they can be as comfortable and relaxed as possible during sessions.

They also run services in schools across Peterborough and Whittlesy and are more in demand than ever as a result of lockdown and the lasting impact that had on young people and their families.

The charity applied for a donation through Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme and were chosen as one of the recipients of the most recent rounds of funding.

They were invited to the Hampton Woods development on the edge of the city to be presented with a cheque for the £3,000 donation and ward councillor Mohammed Farooq, of Peterborough City Council, also joined the event.

Ben Smith, managing director at Persimmon Homes East Midlands, said: “Here at Persimmon we want to work with those charities and organisations that support our communities and provide invaluable services like those offered by the Young People’s Counselling Service.

“They work with young people when they are at their most vulnerable and it is pleasure to offer them a donation to allow them to cast their net further and help even more youngsters in need.”

Samantha Ronnay, business support lead for the charity, said: “Thank you to Persimmon for their continued support, it is wonderful that local businesses are able to help local children within their communities.

“There are currently 65 young people on our waiting list, and this will help us reduce that wait list and ensure some of those children get the emotional support they need whether that is play therapy, or counselling.2

Cllr Mohammed Farooq, Hargate and Hampstead ward councillor, said: “I am delighted, as the local councillor, to have a local developer make such a generous donation. This will go a long way in providing counselling for young residents who really need that extra support.”

Persimmon Homes East Midlands supports charities and organisations with cash donations through their Community Champions Scheme, awarding grants throughout the year for projects that benefit the areas in which they are building new homes.