A homebuilder has made a generous donation to a charity set up in memory of an eight-year-old boy.
Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter has donated £1,500 to the Charlie Duignan Foundation, a charity set up in memory of Exmouth boy Charlie Duignan.
Charlie's parents, Yvette and David, set up the charity in memory of their son who died in January 2024.
Charlie was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June 2022 and despite undergoing extensive surgeries, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, he died in January 2024.
The foundation was set up to honour Charlie's love for the beach and sea by promoting environmental education and beach conservation through Charlie's Beach School.
Charlie's passion for the environment and beach clean-ups inspired his parents to create the beach school in his memory.
The school aims to provide fun and educational beach activities for children, promoting environmental awareness and outdoor play.
The donation helped to launch Charlie's Beach School in September, funding its initial activities.
Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter has also donated beach cleaning equipment, and staff have recently taken part in a beach clean.
Nicki Reid, sales director for Barratt David Wilson Homes Exeter, said: "We are delighted to support the Charlie Duignan Foundation with this donation and through volunteering.
"Charlie's story deeply moved us, and we are honoured to contribute to an initiative that not only preserves his legacy but also instils a love for the environment in children.
"We believe in the importance of community and environmental stewardship, and Charlie's Beach School embodies both."
David Duignan, Charlie's father, said: "We are incredibly thankful for Barratt’s generous donation.
"This support will be instrumental in getting Charlie's Beach School off the ground.
"Our goal is to create a place where children can learn to love and protect the environment just as Charlie did.
"This donation brings us one step closer to making that vision a reality."
The Charlie Duignan Foundation became a registered charity in April 2024.
The foundation recently secured a lease for a beachfront unit in Exmouth, allowing year-round operations and diverse programmes such as beach clean-ups and sports, sea swimming, art, and informative talks.
During the cleaning, the team recovered 16.5kg of waste, including three disposable barbeques, and other items such as a fishing line were collected to be recycled by the charity.
For more information about the Charlie Duignan Foundation and Charlie's Beach School and how you can support them, visit their website.
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