A WOTTON under Edge charity has scooped £100,000 as part of a charity campaign supporting under-18s across the nation.

Wotton Community Sports Foundation won one of the top prizes in the Persimmon Homes Building Futures campaign, which encouraged applications in three categories – education and arts, health, and sport.

Wotton Community Sports Foundation finished first in the sport category after a public vote.

The group provides sports, recreational and leisure facilities for the people of Wotton and the surrounding area, including thousands of young people.

The 38-acre Wotton Community Parc features two all-weather sports pitches, three grass pitches a running trail, skatepark and BMX track.

As well as being home to various sports clubs, the facility attracts 130,000 visits per year.

Mike Marshall, of Wotton Community Sports Foundation, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to win the top prize in Persimmon’s Building Futures competition.

"It’s a huge prize and it’s going to make a massive difference.

“We are fundraising to build a clubhouse on-site as we currently only have two portable toilets and a gazebo.

"This will not only support existing and new sports clubs but will also become a focal point for the community groups which use the site.”

The charity represented Persimmon’s Severn Valley region.

Persimmon Homes has handed out more than £1 million in cash prizes to organisations across England, Scotland and Wales as part of the campaign.

The first, second and third prize winners in each category were decided by a public vote with around 200,000 votes cast.

The housebuilder congratulated 96 organisations for getting to the final stage of its Building Futures competition.

Three finalists were each awarded the top prize of £100,000, three the second prize of £50,000 and three the third prize of £20,000. The remaining finalists were handed £5,000 each.

Persimmon Group CEO Dean Finch said: “Building Futures has been a hugely successful campaign and has given us the opportunity to recognise some amazing organisations across the UK that do such valuable work with young people.

“The pandemic has put a huge strain on the finances of charities and volunteer-led groups so these awards will make a tremendous difference to the work they are able to do and the lives of thousands of young people. It’s a real privilege to be able to support them in this way – and a huge congratulations to our big winners.”

The Persimmon Charitable Foundation and Team GB athletes Dani Rowe and Karen Bennett, selected the finalists after more than 2,500 clubs, groups and organisations entered the Building Futures competition.

While Building Futures 2021 has concluded, Persimmon continues to give away up to £64,000 every month through its Community Champions scheme.

Applications for funding can be made at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity