Grand gesture will keep bowls ace in the game
A CARMARTHENSHIRE bowls club that is raising funds to buy a wheelchair for one of its members has secured vital support from a leading Welsh housebuilding firm.
Cross Hands and District Bowls Club has received £1,000 from Persimmon Homes West Wales to assist with the purchase for one of the club’s members.
The funding means that Paul Bancroft, a member who has played bowls for most of his adult life, can continue to represent the club for many more years to come.
The support has been made through the housebuilder’s Community Champions scheme which has handed out more than £5m to good causes across Great Britain since its launch, and donates up to £4,000 across Wales every month.
The club is flourishing locally as it aims to encourage persons of all ages and disabilities to join and participate in all of its activities.
Persimmon is pushing on with the third and final phase at its Maes y Parc development off Heol y Parc, near Cross Hands, that will see a further 71 new homes built for local people, five of which will be transferred to a local housing authority.
David Thomas, secretary of the bowls club said: “We are extremely grateful to Persimmon Homes West Wales for the generous donation.
“We are a small lawn bowling club that encourages persons of all ages and disabilities to join and participate in all our activities.
“We currently have a number of disabled persons playing regularly in our area leagues many of whom have mobility problems.
“Persimmon’s support will help us purchase a wheelchair for one of our members which would allow him to use it on the green.
“Thank you to Sharon and the team at Persimmon Homes West Wales for their vitally important funding.”
Sharon Bouhali, sales director at Persimmon Homes West Wales said: “Persimmon’s Community Champions initiative is all about supporting the communities and people in which we build, and this is another deserving recipient.
“Our development in Cross Hands has proved incredibly popular, particularly with firsttime buyers and young families, and aside from the site’s significant economic benefits, we are also determined to give back to the local community.
“Cross Hands and District Bowls Club is inclusive, flourishing locally, and goes above and beyond to support its members and promote the sport of bowls.
“Paul has played for the majority of his adult life, and we’re proud to support him and the club to ensure his active participation continues for many more years to come.”