Scarborough's Gallows Close Centre awarded share of £1 million from Persimmon Homes fund

The Gallows Close Centre was one of 96 organisations to reach the final stage of its Building Futures competition and was awarded a £5,000 prize.

During April and May, Building Futures also gave away £1,000 each to 128 organisations supporting young people in sport, education & arts and health throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Three finalists were each awarded the top prize of £100,000, three the second prize of £50,000 and three the third prize of £20,000. The remaining finalists were handed £5,000 each.

The Gallows Close Centre in the arts and education category, Selby Swans Gymnastic Academy for sport and Just ‘B’ at Saint Michael’s Hospice, in Harrogate, for health represented Persimmon Homes Yorkshire and were each awarded £5,000.

Kimmie Avison for the Gallows Close Centre, said: “Taking part in Building Futures has been a fantastic experience for us and it was so exciting to reach the finals, with such a broad range of groups being represented and we are delighted to have been awarded £5,000.

“We aim to teach life skills to young people and plan to launch cookery classes, promoting the benefits of horticulture and growing your own produce.”

Scott Waters, deputy managing director of Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: “The Building Futures scheme has been a great success and it is wonderful to celebrate the fantastic work of so many organisations supporting young people in our communities.

“We have been overwhelmed by both the response to the competition, and the hard work and dedication of those involved within all the groups.”

The first, second and third prize winners were decided by a public vote and around 400,000 votes were cast.

The winners were announced during a virtual event, presented by Dame Katherine Grainger, chairman of UK Sport and Great Britain’s most decorated female Olympian, alongside Persimmon Homes Group CEO Dean Finch. The final was watched by around 1,500 people