Seven Nottinghamshire charities have received an early Christmas present from a Mansfield-based housebuilder.

Sherwood Forest Foodbank, Homestart Mansfield, Nottinghamshire Independent Domestic Abuse Service, Mansfield Samaritans, Helping Kids Achieve and Blidworth Welfare Football Club each received £500.

In addition, Leon’s Legacy, a charity aiming to put life-saving defibrillators in schools across the country following the death of Leon Smith, a lunchtime supervisor, who had a heart attack at Nottingham school, was also presented with a £500 donation.

Three further organisations received a festive £500 donation, including Derbyshire’s The Ben Parker Trust Fund and national charities Help 4 Homeless Veterans and Niemann-Pick UK (NPUK).

With the current pandemic limiting charities’ traditional fundraising activities, the Mansfield-based housebuilder wanted to bring some extra festive cheer to worthy causes that work tirelessly to support others.

Neil Follows, managing director of Persimmon Homes Nottingham, said: “Our popular Community Champions scheme, where we give up to £1,000 each month to two grassroots groups and charities in areas we are building, goes some way to support these hard working, and selfless, groups.

“After such a difficult year, for so many, we felt a festive donation was also needed. My team selected the beneficiaries and I feel they choose well.

“May I remind other such groups to apply to our match-funding Community Champions scheme so we can continue to support as many local good causes as we can.”

The online application to the Persimmon Homes Community Champions scheme can be found at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity