During a tour of the hospice, South Lanarkshire Council leader Maureen Devlin joined Persimmon Homes head of external affairs Gregor Scotland to present the cheque to Kilbryde Hospice chief executive Gordon McHugh.

The funding comes after work was delivered at the hospice by Persimmon apprentices Ross Lyle and Shannon McLaughlin, who joined South Lanarkshire College lecturers to help brighten patient rooms using their painting and decorating skills.

Kilbryde Hospice delivers care and support adapted around what matters to each person.

Through its 12-bed specialist inpatient unit, wellbeing and community services, the charity supports people living with life-shortening illnesses, alongside their families and loved ones.

In 2015, the purpose-built hospice in East Kilbride opened after a £4 million public fundraising campaign. In 2018, its specialist inpatient unit opened.

Gordon McHugh, chief executive of Kilbryde Hospice, said: “We are grateful to Persimmon Homes West Scotland for this generous donation, and to Ross, Shannon and their lecturers for the care they put into refreshing our patient rooms. 

“A welcoming, comfortable space matters to the people we support and to the families spending time with them.”

McHugh added: “It means a great deal when local businesses and colleges bring their skills together in this way to support Kilbryde.”

Chris Logan, managing director of Persimmon Homes West Scotland, said: “It was particularly rewarding to see Ross and Shannon use the skills they are developing through their apprenticeships to make a difference to the hospice environment.

“For us, this is exactly what community investment should be about – using the skills, people and resources we have to make a positive difference in the places where we build.”