ST ATHAN charity, Saints, is celebrating after it was awarded £1,000 by the Aviva Community Fund to improve play areas.

The funds awarded to Saints from the Aviva Community Fund, which pushes their overall total to more than £5,000, will be used to improve the accessibility to and within the site.

Saints want to install a pathway from the street to the park to allow easier access for all, with wheelchair and prams specially in mind, and improve the dilapidated seating area.

The nationwide initiative, which launched in September, looked for projects close to the hearts of residents and 430 organisation applied for funding ranging from up to £1,000 to £25,000.

Organisations that applied had to get the community behind them and Saints received 1,068 votes to secure funding.

Cllr David A Elston, Saints trustee said: “This is another huge step in the right direction. The team of trustees and volunteers that help and form Saints have worked incredibly hard and we are always grateful for all the support and well-wishing received.

"Each time we enter into a competition, there is always the worry we may not win or may not raise as much as we hoped but our campaigns manager Charlotte Jennings, chairperson Lisa Austin and treasurer Sally Gardiner always energise the community spirit and exceed any expectations.

"I really am excited to see where this will lead next and cannot thank both the community, the voters and Aviva enough."

For more information about Saints please visit their Facebook page facebook.com/StAthanSaints/