Wessex supports Oxfordshire youth club

The housebuilder behind the major Wellington Gate development in Grove has donated £1,000 to a local youth centre.

Persimmon Homes Wessex presented the cheque to Sweatbox, situated at King Alfred’s School in Wantage, and were joined by local representatives Cllr Andrew Crawford, Cllr Jenny Hannaby, Cllr Patrick O’Leary, and Deputy Mayor of Wantage, Chris Waters. All sit on the Town Council.

Running for over 50 years, Sweatbox has been a haven for young people in Wantage, Grove, and the surrounding villages, providing a space for fun activities and personal growth in the presence of professional youth workers.

Open for several sessions a week, the centre has become increasingly popular, with nearly 100 young people attending some evenings, meaning its various arts, sports, and gaming offerings are very much in demand – as its on-site tuck shop.

Mainly funded through contributions from both Wantage Town Council and Grove Parish Council, Sweatbox is also reliant on fundraising, grants, and donations.

Persimmon’s Community Champions scheme sees £700,000 donated to good causes and much-valued organisations across Britain each year. Recent local recipients include Oxford Hospitals Charity, Vale & Downland Museum, the Wantage Literary Festival, and the now-annual Christmas event at Wellington Gate in Grove.

The accredited five-star housebuilder’s Wellington Gate site has one, two, three, and four-bed homes available from £189,995. The development is already home to one new primary school, with a secondary school to open later this year. Persimmon’s sister company, Charles Church, also has an outlet on site with four-bed properties available from £474,995.

Pauline Fletcher – Persimmon Homes Wessex Sales Director – said:

“With Persimmon bringing over a thousand new homes – serving local people in Wantage, Grove, and beyond – to Wellington Gate, it is important to us that we support institutions here that make it such a great place to live.

“We’ve been aware of Sweatbox and its valuable work for a while, so we are delighted to be able to support it. I am sure young families at Wellington Gate will be using it for years to come.”

Michelle Rozier – Manager of Sweatbox Youth Centre – added:

“It is fantastic to be recognised as a Community Champion by Persimmon and to receive this much-needed boost to our coffers that, in turn, will help us maintain our offering for young people in Wantage and the wider area.

“As can be imagined, costs for running an operation that caters to so many can be expensive so donations from local businesses like Persimmon are much appreciated.”

On behalf of the councillors, Chris Waters – Deputy Mayor of Wantage – commented:

“Wantage Town Council congratulates Sweatbox on being awarded the accolade Community Champion and receiving a donation from Persimmon Homes. This recognition is well-deserved by Sweatbox who run a fantastic service for our young people.

“Persimmon Homes Wessex continue to support local groups, and this is very much appreciated by the Wantage community.”