A SPECIAL delivery of afternoon tea for care home residents was among numerous gifts to the west Cheshire community from Ellesmere Port homes developer Redrow.

Respite activities for young carers, kit and equipment for sports team and funding for schools were some of the other recipients.

The homebuilder has been sharing £10,000 via a voluntary West Cheshire Community Fund linked to new homes being built at The Pastures, in Backford Cross, and the nearby Ledsham Garden Village development.

It means that Redrow’s North West business has now voluntarily gifted more than £140,000 to the communities it operates in since 2016. This funding is in addition to statutory investment from Redrow linked to planning consents.

Redrow area sales manager Amanda Hollins said: “The importance of community has really come to the fore in recent months and we were really heartened by the response to our West Cheshire Fund.

"There was a real mix of applications and the panel faced tough decisions when deciding how to allocate the funding. In sharing the funds we’ve tried to support a range of projects, while also being mindful of the additional pressures fundraisers, charities and community groups have faced this year because of Covid.

“For example, we’ve worked with Bring Life to Little Sutton to provide care packages for the vulnerable and have used local businesses to provide these, including afternoon tea for residents of Thornton House Residential Home. We’ve also pledged to provide some fun activities for 30 young carers and will be supporting a number of schools and sports teams too.”

Beneficiaries of the latest fund include:

  • Brookside Primary School – to improve the outdoor environment garden to enable children to learn more about nature, wildlife and growing produce
  • Groves Athletics Under 9s FC – for beanie hats and base layers to keep players warm in winter
  • Capenhurst Junior Rugby – for kits for the new junior section
  • Cheshire Young Carers – to facilitate respite activities for 30 young carers
  • Ellesmere Port Club of Gymnastics C.I.C – for a new trampette
  • Hope Farm Hotspurs JFC U8’s – for rain jackets for players
  • Ellesmere Port Youth Netball Club (EPYNC) – for kit and equipment for junior platers
  • Positive Action for Little Sutton (PALS) & Little Sutton Sapphires WI – to restore an iconic red phone box for community use
  • Bring Life to Little Sutton – to provide care packages for the vulnerable
  • Little Sutton C of E Primary School – for books for the library

Julie Aldcroft, founder of Bring Life to Little Sutton, said: “We were aware of people who have had a very challenging time in 2020 and wanted to give something back to help those most in need, helping reduce isolation, aid mental health and lift spirits.

"Working with care home staff, the community frailty team from the Countess of Chester Hospital and inviting nominations from the wider community, we identified recipients for the care packages. We also wanted to support local businesses so that the money received from Redrow is invested in the neighbourhood economy.”

The West Cheshire Community Fund is linked to two current Redrow new homes developments, The Pastures, in Backford Cross, and nearby Ledsham Garden Village.

The Pastures is a 100-home development that will also see almost £250,000 invested in local education, healthcare amenities and towards sports pitches in the area.

Ledsham Garden Village is a much larger scheme of circa 2,000 homes set amid 100 acres of open space, with Redrow having committed to investing £13 million to support the growth of the neighbourhood.