A YORK cricket club has secured a housebuilder’s donation for new training facilities.

Heslington has received £1,000 from the Persimmon Homes Community Champions scheme to help fund its all-weather cricket training nets.

The Heslington village-based community cricket club, which has four adult and four junior teams, has been fundraising for the new enclosed training facility.

Graham Purdy, chair of the club, said: “This is wonderful news for the club. The new training facilities will provide us with a dedicated and safe environment to develop batting and bowling skills. We’re keen to welcome new juniors to the club so this facility will give us a real boost.

“The cost is upwards of £30,000 so this is a big investment for the club and requires a lot of fundraising and funding support from sporting organisations. Persimmon Homes’ donation is gratefully received as it will enable us to secure other match-funding grants.”

The club’s fundraising site is https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Heslingtoncc

Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, as all of Persimmon’s other 30 regional businesses, makes two donations of up to £1,000 every month to grassroots groups and charities across the region.

Scott Waters, managing director of Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: “Our Community Champions scheme is all about supporting the community where we are building. Heslington Cricket Club is not far from our Germany Beck development in Fulford, which is a growing new community, and we are happy to support the club’s fundraising efforts.”

To apply to the Persimmon Homes Community Champions scheme, the online application form can be found at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.