Morrisons makes a Soup-er donation to local charity!

THE Morrisons Foundation was delighted to donate ₤600 to Southport Soup Kitchen, a charity caring for the local vulnerable community by providing warm food and a place to rest. The charity, which is entirely run by volunteers, is based on London Street at the heart of Southport Town centre and is open to all 4 days a week, from 11am to 2pm, on:- Wednesday, Thursday, Saturdays and Sunday. Carol Hadji, a volunteer at the charity, made an application to the Morrisons Foundation for a much needed replacement fridge freezer. The Foundation was more than happy to provide the funds needed for this vital equipment in time for winter cold snap.

The donation was presented by Morrisons Community Champion, Anna Ingram, in the Southport store;- "It's such a good feeling being able to support a small local charity like Southport Soup Kitchen, especially at this time of the year when the need for a warm meal and somewhere safe to stay, even for a short time, is so badly needed."

Carol Hadji from the Soup Kitchen agreed:- "The support from the Morrisons Foundation is really appreciated and will help us to continue to help the needy in the Southport area. We have found Anna and all the team at the Southport Morrisons store to be very supportive of our charity, and the new fridge freezer will be a huge help to our work."

The Morrisons Foundation was set up by Morrisons supermarkets in 2015 and awards grants for charity projects which help improve people's lives. Since launching over ₤24 million has been donated to hundreds of charities across England, Scotland and Wales. Charities are encouraged to visit:- MorrisonsFoundation.Com to find out how to apply for funding.

Persimmon Homes launches ₤1m funding scheme

GROUPS working with under 18s in Merseyside could be in with a chance of scooping a share of ₤1million thanks to a major funding scheme launched by a leading house builder. Persimmon Homes is launching its national Building Futures programme in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association.

The scheme, being run locally by Persimmon Homes North West, aims to support community groups across 3 categories:- sports, education and arts, and health.

Mark Cook, Regional managing director for Persimmon Homes North West, said:- "We are looking for groups, charities and individuals who have amazing ideas on how to spend the big cash prizes to come forward. We will consider anything from new clubhouses and kit, to education and arts centres, research and support."

Monthly grants of ₤1,000 will be awarded across Persimmon's 32 Regional businesses to improve facilities and the delivery of vital grassroots community projects.

Building Futures is being delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation, which last year gave away ₤620,000 to support children's sport. This year's scheme is aimed solely at community projects for people aged under 18 and targeted at grassroots sports groups, charities dealing with physical and mental health issues or awareness, as well as community arts and education projects.

In addition to the ₤1,000 monthly awards, 3 initiatives will go on to win ₤100,000 each through a national award scheme voted on by the public. The winners will be named at a gala dinner for finalists in October. In each sector; sport, education and arts, and health; as well as the ₤100,000 first prize, there will be a ₤50,000 second prize and a ₤20,000 third prize, while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive ₤5,000.

Building Futures was launched at The Heart of England Community Boxing Club in Hinckley, just months after it received a ₤200,000 cheque from the Persimmon Foundation. The cash helped to save the club from collapse.

Young people at the club were treated to a sparring session with London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo as part of the Team GB link up.

Anthony said:- "Persimmon Homes and Team GB through Building Futures can change thousands of kids' lives and that gets a massive thank you from me."

Persimmon Homes is an official partner of Team GB as it prepares for Tokyo 2020 and beyond.

Mark Cook added:- "Building Futures comes on the back of our hugely successful Healthy Communities, which recently gave away ₤600,000 to support youth sport.  Our 2019 campaign is bigger and better than ever so that we can bring positive change to the lives of even more children. Not only have we upped our prize money to more than ₤1 million, we have moved the goalposts so that as well as sporting groups and clubs, we are able to support projects in health as well as education/arts.  We are looking for groups, charities and individuals who have amazing ideas on how to spend the big cash prizes to come forward. We will consider anything from new clubhouses and kit, to education and arts centres, research and support."