The housebuilders behind the Trehenlis Gardens development has donated £5,000 to Helston Athletic Football Club to go towards new floodlights.

Persimmon Homes Cornwall & West Devon handed over the cheque at Kellaway Park after the club’s successful application for a grant from the developer’s Community Champions scheme, with local ward councillor, Guy Foreman, in attendance.

Helston AFC is a ‘not-for-profit’ community organisation managed by volunteers. Its aims and objectives are to ensure that it's a successful, professional and sustainable football club that engages with the local community to provide football for all generations and abilities. The club is a key contributor to the local community.

The grant application is in support of partial funding towards the upgrading to the club’s main pitch floodlighting for that of LEDs as the current lights are due for replacement.

The project to replace current lighting is being undertaken in conjunction with a nationwide Football Foundation initiative supported by the Premier League Stadium Fund.

The developer welcomed Cornwall Council’s Leader and the Cabinet Member for Planning & Housing alongside Cllr Foreman last autumn as it broke ground on the first phase of the site. 

The five-star builder’s donation comes from its Community Champions scheme which sees £24,000 used to help good causes and much-valued organisations in Cornwall and West Devon every year. Recent recipients include Cornwall Air Ambulance and the Museum of Cornish Life.

Persimmon Homes Cornwall & West Devon’s sales director, Jane Cartwright, said: “One of Persimmon’s core missions is to leave a positive and lasting legacy in the areas we build so we are delighted to award our second Community Champions grant to a Helston-based organisation in less than four months.

“Helston AFC is not just a great club with players people love to see play – it is a community with a commendable volunteer force behind it, and we were just glad to be in a position to help them as they fundraise for new floodlights.

“We are delivering hundreds of new homes in the town and no doubt the generation that will grow in those homes will go on to be dedicated fans – and even players – for their local club.”

Paul Hendy, Chairman of Helston AFC, commented: “I am very grateful to Persimmon for choosing us from all the applications they get for grant funding from their Community Champions fund – I know it is a very competitive scheme.

“As the club climbs the table and seeks routes to promotion, it is important that our facilities are at their best level, so getting floodlights that meet our requirements is a must.

“While we have been able to raise funds from other sources, we need every bit of help we can get and that we could build this partnership with Persimmon to deliver for the club and the town is something we can be really proud of.”

Cllr Guy Foreman – whose ward covers both Kellaway Park and Trehenlis Gardens – added: “Persimmon are due to have an increasingly significant presence in Helston as they continue to develop by Clodgey Lane, so it is important and appreciated that they show what else they can deliver here beyond the homes and amenities at Trehenlis Gardens.

“I am grateful that they have already made a contribution to the Museum of Cornish Life and have now done the same with Helston AFC. I look forward to continuing the cooperative relationship we have built so far.”