A REDDITCH tennis club looking to upgrade its facilities has been given a surprise cash boost

Redditch HDA Tennis Club, based in Batchley, was awarded £750 from Persimmon Homes South Midlands and is now in with a chance to win a £200,000 top prize.

The club was handed the cash as part of Persimmon Homes’ Healthy Communities initiative which is aimed at amateur sports teams and individuals aged 21 years and under.

Persimmon will hand out £750 to either an individual or sports team in the area with the money to be spent on sports kit, equipment, coaching or facilities.

In January 2018 Persimmon’s 30 businesses across England, Scotland and Wales will choose a team or individual to represent them in the grand final.

An online public vote will decide the overall winner, with one individual or group scooping the £200,000 top prize to create a lasting legacy and two runners-up winning £50,000 each.

The other 27 finalists will win £5,000 each.

Laurence Read, fundraiser at Redditch HDA Tennis Club, said: “We’re thankful for Persimmon Homes South Midlands’ £750 donation to the club.

“We are a small and friendly tennis club with a very active and successful junior section with several tournaments organised every year.

“Redditch HDA Tennis Club is regularly trying to raise money but it's not enough as the club's maintenance is not cheap."

He added: "If we are lucky enough to benefit from the Persimmon Homes £200,000 grant, we would be able to invest in a number of upgrades that will allow us to host more tournaments; encourage more people from the community to play and create better standards at the club for talent to grow.”

Carol Selway, from Persimmon, said: “It is our pleasure to help Redditch HDA Tennis Club with funding from our Healthy Communities initiative.

“They have a longstanding presence in the community helping hundreds of youngsters to participate in tennis and they were worthy recipients of the award.

“We know the additional facilities will help get even more children playing the game and who knows we could have a future Wimbledon champion coming from Redditch.”