A THRIVING gymnastics club in Barry has been named as one of the first winners of a new £1m campaign.

YMCA Barry Gymnastics Club has scooped £1,000 as one of the first regional champions of Persimmon Homes’ huge Building Futures programme in partnership with Team GB, the British Olympic Association.

Housebuilder Persimmon is dishing out £32,000 a month across its 32 regional operating areas, aiming to support groups which work with under-18s across three categories: sports, education and arts, and health.

Later in the year, three initiatives which top a public vote will win £100,000 each, while there will be a £50,000 second prize and a £20,000 third prize in each category, and a further 87 shortlisted projects will each receive £5,000.

YMCA Barry Gymnastics Club, which has more than 750 members, will put its £1,000 windfall towards a new specialist trampoline.

Anthea Clements, chief executive officer at the club, said: “We are delighted to have won this funding from Persimmon Homes.

“We are always trying to improve our facility and equipment and at the moment we’re raising money for a much-needed Acrotramp.

“An Acrotramp is a type of long trampoline and acts as a safe training aid for the gymnasts to learn acrobatic skills. It allows competitive gymnasts to learn new high level skills.

“Thank you, Persimmon Homes.”

Persimmon Homes is an official partner of Team GB as it prepares for Tokyo 2020 and beyond.

Building Futures is being delivered through the Persimmon Charitable Foundation, which last year gave away £620,000 to support children’s sport.

Victoria Williams, Sales Director at Persimmon Homes East Wales, said: “Building Futures is an exciting new campaign which will support groups working with under-18s right across Wales, and the UK.

“We had some strong applications in February but we’re delighted to support YMCA Barry Gymnastics Club.”

Persimmon Homes is currently building stunning new homes at its Westhaven and Southaven waterfront developments.

To find out more about or to apply Building Futures visit https://www.persimmonhomes.com/building-futures