AN ENGLAND team boxing coach has given his backing to a new funding programme aimed at giving away thousands of pounds to support youth sports across the North West, Lancashire and Cumbria.

David Hodkinson, head coach at Queensway Amateur Boxing Club in Rochdale, lined up with some of his rising stars to help Persimmon Homes launch its new Healthy Communities scheme.

Persimmon is giving away more than £600,000 to sporting causes across the UK over the next 10 months. Healthy Communities is aimed at amateur sports teams and individuals aged 21 years and under in England, Wales and Scotland.

David, a former England and Army boxer himself, said: “I am delighted to be involved in the launch of Persimmon’s Healthy Communities programme.

“Here at the Queensway club we have a number of rising stars competing at national and international level, and securing funding is always an issue to help them to achieve their full potential.

“Corporate support of this kind is vital for both grassroots sport and developing future champions.

“There is so much individual sporting talent across the North West and some top-class sports clubs. I’d urge them all to get involved and make an application for funding.”

Every month this year each of Persimmon’s 30 regional businesses – including the company headquartered in Lancaster – will hand out £750 to either an individual or sportsperson in the area.

The money is to be spent on sports kit, equipment, coaching or facilities.

Then in January 2018 a team or individual will be selected to represent each of Persimmon’s 30 businesses in an online public vote will decide the overall winner.

One individual or group will scoop the £200,000 top prize to create a lasting legacy, with two runners-up winning £50,000 each. The other 27 finalists will win £5,000 each.

The new fund is in addition to the £720,000 the company already donates through its hugely successful Community Champions scheme each year.

Mark Cook, regional managing director of Persimmon Homes, said the new campaign was aimed at giving back to the communities in which the company operates.

Anyone interested in applying for funding can find out more at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity.