The Persimmon Foundation is excited to announce a donation of £15,000 to the South-West Social Mobility Commission, an organisation committed to improving education and employment opportunities for under-resourced communities across the South-West of England.
The Persimmon Foundation, established in 2015, has a track record of advancing urban regeneration, health, education, and poverty alleviation. With around £1.5 million donated to more than 1,400 organisations in the past three years, the foundation continues to make a tangible impact in communities where the Persimmon Group operates.
The South-West Social Mobility Commission (SWSMC) was established two years ago in response to the alarming findings of the 2022 report Social Mobility in the South West (Sim and Elliot Major), which revealed the region as having the lowest social mobility in England.
The SWSMC is represented by a group of passionate civic leaders from a range of sectors across the peninsula, all committed to improving social mobility in the region. Together with a dedicated strategy unit housed within the University of Exeter, the SWSMC aims to drive and co-ordinate action to transform life chances for children and young people from under-resourced backgrounds across the South-West peninsula (Cornwall, Devon and Somerset) now and over the next 25 years.
The Commission has sought to unite leaders from education, civil society, and business to enhance equity, challenge the perception of the South West as being a low-skill, low-wage economy, strengthen education across all ages and regions, and reform business recruitment and development practices to ensure opportunities for all.
The Persimmon Foundation’s donation will help expand these initiatives, fostering a future where everyone has the chance to thrive.
Anthony Vigor, Chair of Trustees for the Persimmon Foundation, commented:
“Partnering with the South-West Social Mobility Commission is an incredible opportunity to support long-term, meaningful change in the region.
“As the Persimmon Foundation, we are proud to play a part in helping young people across the South West achieve their full potential.”
Professor Lee Elliot Major, representing the South-West Social Mobility Commission, said:
“We are very grateful to the Persimmon Foundation for their generous £15,000 donation.
“This support will significantly enhance our ability to conduct research and implement projects aimed at breaking down barriers to social mobility across the South West.
“Together, we aim to create lasting change by ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed.”
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