The housebuilders behind a forthcoming development in Merthyr Tydfil have donated £2,000 to a local school.
Persimmon Homes East Wales made the donation to Twynyrodyn Community School PTFA (Parents, Teachers, and Friends Association) after they were successful in their application to the five-star developer’s Community Champions scheme.
The cheque was presented to the PTFA at the school by Persimmon, with local county councillors Cllr Andrew Barry, Cllr David Jones and Cllr Julia Jenkins in attendance.
The money will be used by the PTFA as part of its fundraising goal to purchase a set of eight Go Bikes & Trikes for their nursery-aged children. They have so far held discos for Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day as part of the effort.
They are also enhancing the area through paying to have a track installed. The bikes and trikes will help the children develop physical skills, including gross motor skills and balance.
Persimmon have started construction at their Porth y Dyffryn site on land between Oak Tree Rise and Wallhead Road in the south of the town. The first of 121 high-quality, new homes for local families will come on to the market in the coming months.
Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme sees £48,000 donated to good causes and much-valued organisations across Wales each year. Recent local recipients include Kidz R Us in Tredegar and Heads of the Valleys Amateur Boxing Club in Ebbw Vale.
Persimmon Homes East Wales’ sales director Victoria Williams said:
“Persimmon is really excited to be bringing forward over 120 new high-quality homes to the local community in Twynyrodyn, helping to meet the housing need in Merthyr Tydfil.
“Our Community Champions scheme is there to help those areas in which we build, not only because they are worthy in themselves, but because we want our customers and the future residents of those communities to benefit from their great work going forward.
“The PTFA do wonderful work at Twynyrodyn School and we want future generations growing up at Porth y Dyffryn – and their parents, of course – to experience that.”
Rebecca Edwards of the Twynyrodyn Community School PTFA commented:
“I want to thank Persimmon for choosing us as worthy recipients of their Community Champions scheme – we can never know if we come out with anything through these applications so when it happens it’s a great confidence booster to us all.
“The donation will really help us in our determination to give children in the area great experiences that improve their physical and emotional wellbeing, their educational development, and set them up as best as we can for the future.”
Cllr Andrew Barry – who is also Deputy Leader of Merthyr Tydfil Council – added:
“It was a pleasure to attend the presentation and know that the children at Twynyrodyn School are well supported by a dedicated group of parents, teachers, and volunteers.
“The PTFA are acting with initiative with the purchasing of these new bikes for youngsters to improve their skills and I am grateful to Persimmon for making this possible.”
Cllr Julia Jenkins also said:
“As a member of the PTFA myself, I am delighted that it was successful in its application and, as a councillor, it is really positive to see a developer give back to the communities in which they build, beyond the provision of housing and supporting infrastructure.
“The PTFA’s grant applications and fundraising activities demonstrate their dedication to Twynyrodyn’s children, and I would call on anyone who can spare their time to help them or if they know of grant schemes to which they can apply to get in touch with them.”
Cllr David Jones too commented:
“The PTFA at Twynyrodyn Community School do wonderful work and I commend all those volunteers that do so much to ensure the pupils there have a great childhood.
“I want to thank Persimmon as well for believing the PTFA were worthy winners and agreeing that their activity is worthy of recognition and a financial boost.”
