TWO Redditch community groups are celebrating after receiving £1,000 each from a national housebuilder.

Studley-based Persimmon Homes allocates funds every month to two local charities or good causes under its Community Champions programme.

This month, the winners included Redditch First Responders – a community response scheme which offers emergency medical care until ambulance resources arrive on the scene.

Trained and supported by West Midlands Ambulance Service, the group has to provide its own vehicles, including life-saving medical equipment.

Sue Watkins, spokesperson for Redditch First Responders said: “We deliver a vital service in emergency situations, and we are instrumental in keeping people stable until ambulance resources reach the scene.

“We will use this donation to help fund specialist equipment on our new vehicle and to help support CPR training in the community.”

The newly formed football team, South Redditch Eagles Under 15’s, were also granted £1,000.

The club applied to Persimmon’s programme for funds to buy playing kits.

Under-15’s manager Russell Browne said: “The money will be a huge help to us.

“Kits are so expensive to buy, especially as players get older, and being new, we started off with absolutely nothing.

“This donation will go a long way in making us successful and we are very grateful.”

Managing director of Persimmon Homes Russell Griffin said the two causes were ‘richly deserving’.

He added: “We are delighted to make a difference to two very different but richly deserving local causes by making this donation from our Community Champions fund.

“Redditch First Responders do an amazing job in those vital minutes as people wait for the emergency services to arrive.

“By contrast, South Redditch Eagles are here to provide a constructive, sporting outlet for youngsters in the town, so they too deserve every encouragement.”