Harbury Hornets receives second donation from Community Sports Fund
Newly-formed walking netball team Harbury Hornets has won one of four £250 grants from local housebuilder Bloor Homes, with the money going towards new bibs for the ladies.
Bloor Homes set up the Community Sports Fund for clubs in Warwick and Leamington Spa, inviting locals to apply for one of four £250 donations towards projects, equipment, or kit. The housebuilder set up the fund to strengthen links with the local community around its new development called The Asps off Banbury Road in Warwick.
Harbury Hornets submitted a strong entry for the grant, describing how the team meet up once a week for fun, laughter, some netball and above all, support. The team was founded in June and started with just eight players, but today the club is 20-strong.
Hornets’ founder, Karen Simms, said: “We’re so pleased and overwhelmed to have won £250 from Bloor Homes and would like to say a massive thank you to them for their support.
“We aren’t just here for netball, but for our mental health – Harbury Hornets is somewhere where ability, size and gender does not matter. Each and every one of us has a story, and we use our time together on a Monday evening as a little escape.
“We recently hosted our first ever charity tournament in memory of one of our player’s grandsons, baby Eddie. It was so important to us as a team to raise as much as we could, both in money and in awareness of MCADD, and so we were so delighted to raise an impressive £2095.20. We hope to host more charity tournaments in the future.
“We are using Bloor Homes’ generous donation to buy bibs for our team, as currently the largest size bib you can buy is a L, equivalent to a size 14! So we are having custom-made bibs for every player, so that all members of the Harbury Hornets can take part in tournaments and feel comfortable and confident!”
Michele Rose, Sales and Marketing Director for Bloor Homes’ Midlands region, said: “We chose to support Harbury Hornets because it’s clear that the club is a safe space for local people, encouraging anyone regardless of ability or background to get involved.
“We were also really moved to hear about the charity tournament that the club held, and wanted to boost the team in any way that we could.”
Bloor Homes will announce the next winner of its Community Sports Fund shortly.