Swansea’s Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby Club is celebrating after winning a £1,000 grant to buy new training equipment.

The money comes from Persimmon Homes as part of our Community Champions initiative, which sees 64 good causes across Great Britain awarded up to £1,000 every month.

Sam Lloyd, of Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby Club, said: “This money is a tremendous boost for the club and we can’t thank Persimmon Homes enough. We provide rehabilitation both physically and mentally through sport by giving the opportunity for disabled people to take part in wheelchair rugby where they meet friends, build confidence and learn a whole set of new skills.

“To restart our activities, we required extra funding to provide PPE, training equipment and facilities, with extra volunteers due to strict Covid 19 safety restrictions. The priority at all times is to ensure we only permit training at a level within conditions which minimise any risk of COVID-19 infection being transmitted.

“Our players will be absolutely delighted by this donation.”

Wheelchair rugby is a mixed sport for people who have both upper and lower body impairments. The game is played indoors on a basketball size court using a ball the size of a volleyball. Goals are scored by carrying the ball over the goal line between two cones, eight metres apart. The ball must be bounced or passed at least every 10 seconds.

Sharon Bouhali, sales director at Persimmon Homes West Wales, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Ospreys Wheelchair Rugby Club.

“Sport is a fantastic way for people to get together and stay active. COVID has hit sports clubs hard so we’re pleased to be able to help the players back onto the court. This is exactly what Community Champions is all about.”

Persimmon is preparing to start work on stunning new homes on Aberavon seafront.