Ebbw Vale Cricket Club, based in Blaenau Gwent in South Wales, has received a donation of £500 from the Pavers Foundation.
Debra Stephens, Customer Advisor at our store in Ebbw Vale, applied through our employee grant application process to support the club, in which she spent many years at whilst growing up.
Ebbw Vale Cricket Club, who currently play their games at Eugene Cross Park, was established over 150 years ago and runs two senior teams and five junior teams.
“I put forward the cricket club because as a teenager I spent many Saturdays there playing badminton in the big hall. I have very fond memories, it's a lovely place. Thank you once again to the Pavers Foundation for helping the club”.
Debra Stephens, Customer Advisor at Pavers in Ebbw Vale
Following local government spending cuts the club has had to take on responsibility for maintaining both their ground and pavilion. Whilst the playing area remains in good condition, the pavilion however was in a very poor state of repair and being 85 years old, it was a daunting task for the club to take over the building. However, through much hard work and effort by members, both through manual labour and fundraising, the pavilion looks much better.
The club has recently installed a new concrete floor, new lighting, installed new radiators and completely repainted the building. A section of the building had to be rebuilt due to damage caused by tree roots to foundations. With this rebuild, a small female changing area was added, as previously female players had to use toilet facilities to get changed.
The donation of £500 from the Pavers Foundation will help towards decorating and furnishing this female changing area, which will make a big difference to both players and the club. This will also hopefully encourage more females to play at the club, as facilities will meet the standards expected for participation.
“The donation from the Pavers Foundation will greatly assist in helping to improve the changing facilities for our female players and will demonstrate that we are a club that actively encourages females to come and play cricket at this great club. We are very grateful to the Pavers Foundation for this kind donation”.
Nick Pepper, Club Secretary
