Housebuilder rewards sporting club Suffolk Spartans with £5,000 cash from its communities award scheme.

A Suffolk sports group has been handed a cheque for £5,000 in a national competition run by housebuilder Persimmon Homes.

Suffolk Spartans powerlifting club, based at East Bergholt, received the money through the Persimmon Healthy Communities scheme which saw the housebuilder give away £435,000 to 30 finalists.

Persimmon Homes Essex chose Suffolk Spartans as its winner after being impressed with its work, welcoming members of all disabilities and abilities to learn and develop a new skill, amongst people who understand their individual needs.

Louise Collins, from Suffolk Spartans said: “We are overwhelmed by the support that our club has received during the Healthy Communities campaign.

“We are so excited to have been a finalist and cannot wait to use the money to grow and improve our incredible club.”

The Healthy Communities competition went to a public vote where all 30 finalists battled to receive Persimmon Homes’ top prize of £200,000. Overall winners, Heart of England Community Boxing Club, will completely redevelop their new premises in Hinckley with the prize money.

All of the finalists were invited to attend a gala dinner at York Racecourse when 27 organisations received £5,000 for getting to the final stage of the competition. SportsAble, based in Maidenhead, and Park Wrekin Gymnastics, based in Telford, were named the two runners-up, both receiving £50,000.

Phil Standen managing Director at Persimmon Homes Essex said: “The Healthy Communities scheme has been a great success and we had a brilliant evening at York Racecourse celebrating the fantastic work of these special sporting clubs.

“We have been overwhelmed by both the response to the competition, and the hard work of those involved within the sporting clubs, who work exceptionally hard to train the next generation of sporting heroes.”

Persimmon Homes launched its Healthy Communities scheme last May, and has since given £615,000 to support amateur youth sport in England, Scotland and Wales.

Thousands of groups and individuals applied for monthly donations of £750 to pay for kit and equipment and as part of their entry had to say what they would spend the £200,000 on if they were lucky enough to win the top prize.

Persimmon Homes Essex gave away £6,000 locally as part of this and nationally, Persimmon’s 30 businesses donated £180,000.