West Country house builder supports disadvantaged young people with £1,000 donation

West Country house builder Devonshire Homes has kick-started 2021 by donating £1,000 to the William Wates Memorial Trust.

Announcing its charity partnership with the Trust in 2020, the first £1,000 has been raised through Devonshire Homes’ open-market sales and in-house fundraising events. Devonshire Homes will continue to donate £50 to the charity for every open-market sale during 2021.

The funds will help the Trust support projects that encourage young people experiencing severe disadvantage to keep away from a life of crime and violence, enabling them to fulfil their potential. Celebrating the life of William Wates, who was tragically killed whilst travelling in Central America, the Trust gives grants to projects across the country, including the Livewire Youth Music Project in Saltash.

Based only 25 miles from Devonshire Homes’ Kingsbridge site, Applegate Park, Livewire offers support to young people through music and traditional youth work, helping them through the trials and tribulations of growing up.

From 2017 to 2019, the award-winning housebuilder raised £36,000 for other local charities. Devonshire Homes hopes to live up to this reputation by continuing to fundraise for the William Wates Memorial Trust this year.

Jane Pearce, Joint Acting Managing Director of Devonshire Homes, commented:

“What better way to kick-start the year than by donating £1,000 to our fantastic charity partner, the William Wates Memorial Trust. The charity supports projects which span the country, including projects that are close to home, and we’re pleased to support them with this first donation. This is just the beginning and we will be continuing to fundraise for the Trust throughout 2021.”

Rick Wates, William Wates Memorial Trust Trustee, commented: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Devonshire Homes for donating £1,000 to the William Wates Memorial Trust. It is great to see a company so committed to giving back to their community. Covid-19 has brought with it so many challenges, particularly for charities, so we value the support from fundraisers now more than ever. Donations enable us to continue working with projects that can act as such a lifeline for young people during a time of such anxiety and uncertainty.”

Independent housebuilder Devonshire Homes, based in Tiverton, has been creating new homes and communities in towns and rural areas across Devon and Cornwall since 1992. Current developments include: Tarka View, Crediton; Longston Cross, Bovey Tracey; Gwallon Keas, St. Austell and Applegate Park, Kingsbridge.