COLCHESTER and East Essex Cricket Club has secured a £1,000 cash boost to fund new changing facilities.

The club will receive the funding through the Persimmon Homes Building Futures scheme, which aims to help community groups working with under 18s.

The cricket club, which has more than 400 members, applied for the funding to allow them to improve the changing facilities.

Andrew Kennedy, club chairman, said: “Due to the growth and expansion of the club, in particular our junior teams, we need to raise as much funds as possible, to develop new changing facilities.

“The club runs amateur recreational cricket for men, women and juniors from our Castle Park town centre facility, which has hosted matches for more than 100 years.

“The club is so grateful to Persimmon for its generous support.”

Phil Standen, managing director for Persimmon Homes Essex, said: “We are proud that our funding schemes can deliver resources directly to those small charities, schools, clubs and organisations that have a great impact on the community and Colchester and East Essex Cricket Club is an excellent example of that.”

Monthly grants of £1,000 are awarded by Persimmon with three initiatives going on to win £100,000 each through a national award scheme voted on by the public.

The overall winners will be named in October.