Charities are vying to win up to £100,000 from a housebuilding company.

Persimmon Homes in North London has shortlisted Learning Through Horses, Young and Inspired and St John's Hospice in its Building Futures initiative.

Persimmon Homes is an official partner of Team GB and the Persimmon Charitable Commission enlisted the help of medal-holding athletes Kat Copeland and Callum Skinner to help determine the three regional finalists for each business division.

Three initiatives from each category will go on to win £100,000 each through a national award scheme to be decided by a public vote.

As well as the £100,000 first prize, there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize in each sector, while a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.

Edgware-based Learning Through Horses in the arts and education category helps vulnerable young people develop vital life skills through working with horses.

It particularly works with students who are struggling with mental health, emotional or behavioural problems and students with learning difficulties.

Rosie Edwards, charity founder and programme leader, said: “If Learning Through Horses won the top prize of £100,000 it would allow us to build a brand new purpose built Equine Assisted Learning Centre in North London, securing our future and enabling thousands of vulnerable young people to turn their lives around in the years to come.”

Young & Inspired, in the sport category, aims to empower disadvantaged children and young people in Hackney and Haringey to beat financial, social and academic barriers so that they can have a great childhood and a healthy transition into adulthood. If they win, they will buy a minibus to allow more children access to their activities.

St John’s Hospice, in Grove End Road, London, provides flexible care for those across central and north west London and works closely with schools and colleges to educate staff on how best to support a young person who is dealing with bereavement.

Karl Endersby, director-in-charge of Persimmon Homes North London, said: “Building futures aims to create a lasting legacy for young people and the groups that support them."

“We have been overwhelmed by the response and it is clear there are a lot of very worthy causes supporting the younger generation and a lot of people working exceptionally hard to help them.”

To vote in this competition, visit www.persimmonhomes.com/building-futures. Voting will run until September 27 and the winner will be announced at a gala dinner on Tuesday, October 8.