Three groups have fingers-crossed as voting ends in £1 Million charity prize fund

Groups in London and High Wycombe that support young people are waiting to discover if they have won £100,000 in a housebuilder’s charity competition after a public vote ended.

Persimmon Homes North London shortlisted the good causes to represent the region in its Building Futures scheme, which is giving away £1 million nationally this year to projects that benefit under-18s.

Each of Persimmon’s 32 operating businesses selected groups from three categories targeting grassroots sports groups, health organisations and arts & education projects.

Sister System, based in Tottenham, is in the arts & education category at the national final, London-based Body and Soul was selected to represent health and Horizon Sports Club, in High Wycombe, sport. As well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize in each sector, while the remaining shortlisted projects from across England, Scotland and Wales will each receive £5,000.

The winners in each category have been decided by a public vote with around 366,000 votes cast. The winners will be announced on October 6.

Karl Endersby, deputy managing director at Persimmon Homes North London, said: “Building Futures aims to create a lasting legacy for young people and the groups that support them. It is clear there are a lot of very worthy causes supporting the younger generation and we wish our finalists the best of luck.”

Sister System is London’s first preventative charity supporting girls in care, empowering them, increasing their mental resilience and economic stability. These girls are on the fringes of society at risk of economic deprivation, social isolation, abuse, homelessness and coercion. Sister System helps them to achieve a life free from abuse with good mental health, engaging them in education and employment.

Horizon Sports Club is the only club in Buckinghamshire offering a range of activities for young people with disabilities and also offers volunteering opportunities to able-bodied youngsters who gain an invaluable insight into disability. Horizon will soon celebrate its 20th anniversary. It has enabled hundreds of children with disabilities to participate in a range of sports supporting their physical and psychological well-being.

Body & Soul’s purpose is to transform the devastating effects of trauma in children and young people’s lives. The group supports those at high risk of trauma: children living with HIV, children adopted from care, and young people who have attempted suicide. Every year the cause assists more than 250 children, providing innovative therapeutic and community-centred interventions to transform lives.

Building Futures is being delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation, which last year donated £1.7 million to community projects and charities.