West Country housebuilder raises over £14,000 for William Wates Memorial Trust

West Country housebuilder Devonshire Homes has helped fundraise thousands of pounds for the William Wates Memorial Trust during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Supporting the Trust since 2020, Devonshire Homes has raised a total of £14,100 through various fundraising activities. 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.

Devonshire Homes has donated £50 to the charity for every open-market sale during 2020, 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. In addition, Devonshire Homes hosted a charity Golf Day in October 2021 in which it raised £5,000 for the charity through entry fees, an auction and raffle.

Celebrating the life of William Wates, who was tragically killed whilst travelling in Central America as a result of street crime, the Trust was founded in 1998 by William’s family.

Rick Wates, William Wates Memorial Trust Trustee, commented: “This fantastic fundraising by Devonshire Homes will make such a big difference to the projects we currently support. All of our projects across the UK help the most disadvantaged young people, keeping them off the streets, safe and away from crime, allowing them to develop their skills and carve out a bright future for themselves.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has presented us with many challenges. Our biggest fundraising event of the year, the Le Loop cycling challenge, had to be cancelled two years in a row. This impacted our fundraising efforts just at the time when disadvantaged young people needed us the most. Now, the number of young people living in poverty in the UK has risen to more than 4.5 million for the first time so donations from companies like Devonshire Homes are vital in order for us to make a positive difference.

“I attended Devonshire Homes’ charity Golf Day in October and it was a brilliant atmosphere. Professionals from across the South West’s housing and construction industry came together and were so generous with their donations. Thank you to Devonshire Homes for such a great fundraising event and for all the support over the last couple of years!”

Jane Pearce, Sales and Marketing Director at Devonshire Homes, commented: “We are delighted that we’ve raised over £14,000 for the William Wates Memorial Trust, particularly through such a challenging time. The charity supports a number of incredible projects and Devonshire Homes is pleased to have raised a significant amount to help these projects get back on their feet.”

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.

For more information, visit www.devonshirehomes.co.uk