A charity that supports young people in some of the most disadvantaged areas is asking people to cast their votes so they can be in with a chance of winning £1million.
The Aldridge Foundation, a charity that supports disadvantaged youngsters, including students attending Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen Vale High School, Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio and Sudell Primary school in Darwen, is in the running to win a share of a £1million Persimmon Homes Building Futures fund.
The fund is aimed at supporting charities working with under-18s across the UK, and Persimmon Homes is backing the Aldridge Foundation to be a prize winner at a special event later this year, where cash awards of £100,000, £50,000 or £20,000 will be made to those with the most online votes.
CEO of the Aldridge Foundation, Shona Nichols, said: “We’re so proud to be chosen as a regional finalist and it’s given everyone a massive boost.
"The last 18 months or so have been extremely challenging for many young people and has really stretched the charities that support them - like ourselves.
"Our work truly helps young people to have an equal chance of succeeding in life.
"We’ve achieved so much but we need to do more every day to reach many more deserving young people.
"We’d really appreciate if people would get behind us and start voting.
“If we could win any of the top three cash awards it would mean we could significantly expand our work and help change more lives.
"The funding would help the foundation to continue its valuable work developing the life and employability skills of young people from areas of low socio-economic wealth so that they have the self-belief and confidence to aim high and push beyond the obstacles and barriers that others from wealthier communities don’t have to face.
"We believe every young person should have an equal chance in life - your vote will help this happen.”
Building Futures is delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association.
Through Building Futures, a total of 128 grants of £1,000 have been awarded to groups supporting sport, education and arts and health across Persimmon’s 31 regional businesses and its head office.
As well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize in each category, while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.
Online voting opened on Monday 11 October and runs until midnight on November 19 and you can cast one vote every day until November 19.
To vote, visit www.persimmonhomes.com/building-futures/ and select the Aldridge Foundation.
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