Member Article

Theatre group gets pre-panto cash boost

A Coventry-based musical theatre group which is busily preparing for its annual pantomime has received a financial boost from one of the UK’s leading housebuilders.

The Three Spires Musical Society, which has been running for more than 100 years under different guises, has been awarded £1,000 through Persimmon Homes Central’s Community Champions scheme.

The national match-funding programme seeks to support groups and charities working to improve the quality of life or environment for local people.

Three Spires Musical Society produce a pantomime and one other major show every year. The 2016 show was Sister Act while Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs runs at the Albany Theatre from Wednesday January 11 to Sunday January 15.

The Persimmon Homes’ donation will be used to fund general running costs and purchase and hire costumes.

Susan Hartshorn, fundraising coordinator for Three Spires Musical Society, said: “We have between 50 and 70 members ranging from children for the pantomime right through to people in their 80s.

“We are proud to have such large numbers and such diversity in ages but running costs are increasing all the time.

“We do our own fundraising through events such as a race night, a dinner dance and quizzes but this donation is crucial to keeping the society going and enabling us to produce two shows a year and we are extremely grateful to Persimmon Homes.”

The Persimmon Homes Community Champions scheme invites local groups and charities to bid for cash from a £750,000 national fund, with two donations of up to £1,000 being made locally each month.

Amanda Benjamin, sales director at Persimmon Homes Central, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Three Spires Musical Society which provides a platform for so many members of the community to perform on stage.

“Persimmon Homes Central has had a fantastic response to its Community Champions scheme and it is always a tricky task to pick our winners each month. If applicants were unsuccessful last month, we urge them to visit the Persimmon Homes website and to try again and hopefully they will become our next Community Champion.”

Community groups, charities and good causes across the country have benefitted thanks to the donations from Persimmon Homes. Organisations can apply for funding by completing a simple online form at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Garrison .