Member Article

Fencing club strikes a hit with £1,000 donation

Newcastle Fencing and Sports Trust has been gifted £1,000 towards a new project aiming to rehabilitate military veterans through fencing coaching.

The donation from Persimmon Homes North East is from the company’s Community Champions scheme, which provides financial support to deserving organisations across the region.

Newcastle Fencing and Sports Trust is a joint collaboration between fencers, parents, supporters and head coach Iain Aberdeen. The Trust has its own training facilities based on Benfield Road, Newcastle upon Tyne and offers fencing training for all levels and abilities.

The funding will contribute to a collaborative project with veterans’ charity ‘Forward Assist’, whose objective is to help military veterans’ rehabilitation through fencing training. The Trust hopes to provide veterans with six week beginners’ courses in fencing and then further intermediate training, all of which will improve both their physical and mental health, whilst also increasing self-confidence and motivation.

The Trust have already started fundraising for this initiative by holding a nationally ranked fencing competition, but would like their efforts to be subsidised by Community Champions.

Iain Aberdeen, head coach at the club, said: “This £1,000 donation from Persimmon is needed to purchase adult safety equipment and epees for the Trust to allow veterans to participate in the courses in a safe environment.”

Debbie Zaben, sales and marketing for Persimmon Homes North East, said the scheme was an excellent way for the company to ensure it supports the communities in which it works.

Debbie added: “We are delighted to be supporting Newcastle Fencing and Sports Trust and hope this money can go some way to improve the lives, health and wellbeing of those who have risked their lives fighting for this country.

“We now want to hear from more clubs, groups and charities as we look to allocate more funding over the next month.”

To find out more about Community Champions visit www.persimmonhomes.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Lee Southen .