MCCARTHY and Stone, the housebuilder behind the Applegate House Retirement Living development on Seymour Road in Trowbridge, has pledged its support to local charity, Arts Together, with a £500 donation.

Arts Together encourages the use of art as a way to tackle the damaging effects of loneliness and isolation, as well as enhance the wellbeing of older adults. Since 1999, Arts Together has been bringing together professional artists and older people for weekly art workshops and creative activities throughout Wiltshire.

Spread across county, the charity offers 72 places for budding artists in its workshops which take place in Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Corsham, Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey.

Karolyne Fudge-Malik, manager at Arts Together, was presented with a cheque for £500 by Jos Maude, sales executive, and Gabrielle Dearling, senior marketing executive for McCarthy and Stone.

Karolyne Fudge-Malik commented: “We are constantly looking for ways to spread the word so that we can support more older people who are living alone in isolation, and this donation from McCarthy and Stone will help us to reach retirees whose lives would be improved by joining us.”

Kim Caldwell, regional sales and marketing director for McCarthy and Stone Southern, said: “As a company, we appreciate that our responsibility is not only to build quality, purpose-built retirement properties, but also to create a positive legacy in the communities in which we build. Arts Together does such a superb job in and around Wiltshire tackling the damaging effects of loneliness and we are delighted to be able to donate to such a worthy cause.

“A tight-knit community and companionship are among the many benefits of living in a McCarthy and Stone development, and we are proud to support those who share our values and are helping to make a difference to the lives of others in the community.”