Lawrence House Museum in Launceston has been awarded £1,000 by Persimmon Homes Cornwall, boosting the fund to update its computer system.

The museum is the town’s go-to place for local history, and applied for funding through Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions Scheme.

The Persimmon scheme began last year, allowing charities and groups to apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match money they have already raised themselves. Nationally, Persimmon Homes donated a total of £750,000 across the UK in the first twelve months of the programme.

Lawrence House Museum requires £6,000 to upgrade its computer system, and has been assisted by Persimmon Homes Cornwall, who donated £1,000 to their cause.

Helen Gribble, the museum’s treasurer, said: “The museum is run by volunteers and there is no charge for admission, so we rely on funding from elsewhere. We were looking to update our current computer system, which means we can work with greater efficiency and speed.

“The upgrade comes at a price, which is around £6,000. We’ve managed to secure a £1,000 grant from Launceston Town Council, but we require further funding to carry out this essential work. We are grateful for Persimmon Homes Cornwall’s donation, as it brings us a step closer to our overall target.”

Daniel Heathcote, director in charge at Persimmon Homes Cornwall, added: “We were delighted to be able to make this donation to the museum which is so important to Launceston. We were very keen to contribute to the museum’s growth, and glad we can help make a difference. Persimmon Homes Cornwall takes great pride in supporting the organisations and groups based in the areas in which we work, and this is an example of that.”