Donation will allow makeover at ‘secret garden’

A YMCA community centre has been handed a £960 donation to makeover a “secret garden” by a Perth-based housebuilder.

The YMCA Broughty Ferry i n Dundee has received the cash from Persimmon Homes North Scotland as part of the house builder’s community champions project, which has so far donated £1.4 million nationally.

The community centre created the secret garden in 2016 following an initial donation from Persimmon Homes and its popularity prompted the volunteers to apply for further funding to give the garden a seasonal makeover.

Jack Knight, chairman at the YMCA, said: “We are extremely grateful to Persimmon Homes North Scotland for this generous donation.

“The garden has been a huge success and become an oasis of tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of daily life for visitors including war veterans, Alzheimer’s suffers, children and disabled people.

“We have worked extremely hard to raise funds and this latest donation will help us to give the garden a makeover in time for the brighter weather. The money will be used to buy new plants, a storage shed for tools and a marquee for events in the garden.”

Iain Innes, managing director at Persimmon Homes North Scotland, said the community champions initiative was a way of supporting people across every city, town and village where the company builds.

He said: “We’re very proud to be supporting the YMCA Broughty Ferry with their garden makeover.

“They are an important part of the community support system that makes a real difference to young and elderly people in Dundee.”

Iain added: “We’ve made it really simple to apply for community champions funding, and we’re urging groups and charities to apply for next month’s donation.”

The garden at the YMCA.