THE Pavilion Project’s fundraising campaign has secured a major grant.

The project is raising funds for a new multi-sport pavilion to replace the old cricket pavilion and scoring huts at North Walls Recreation Ground in Winchester.

In December the group was awarded £25,000 by The Syder Foundation, a family foundation based in Berkshire, taking the total raised by The Pavilion Project in 2019 to over £110,000 - and taking total funds to well over 80 per cent of the target figure.

In January The Pavilion Project joined two other local good causes in Winchester’s Tesco Extra store in Winnall and the Tesco Express shops in Kings Worthy, Harestock, Andover Road, City Road and High Street as part of its “Bags of Help” grant scheme. Shoppers are encouraged to give a blue token to one of the three featured good causes; the current campaign runs until the end of March. The Pavilion Project team will be holding an awareness event at the Winnall Tesco on February 13 from 10am to midday.

Tim Fell, trustee, said: “2019 was an excellent year for project. We still have several grant applications pending and we’re now more confident than ever that building work will commence in 2020. The project has planning consent so we’re ready to go. River Park Leisure Centre will be closing in early 2021 and it’s important that good facilities are in place at North Walls for the many sports groups that use this space.”

Donations can be made via The Pavilion Project’s website: www.thepavilionproject.com.

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Last year ended very well - and the new year has started well - for