Little Hallingbury Cricket Club pavilion to be upgraded thanks to a grant from ICENI Water

THE villagers of Little Hallingbury are celebrating the news that the village cricket club pavilion is to be upgraded thanks to a �450 grant from Iceni Water's new ICENI Refreshment Fund.

Little Hallingbury Cricket Club is the hub at the centre of the local village community.

In the past, the village had other thriving sports clubs with facilities for football, tennis and bowls but these have not survived the test of time. As a result, demand for use of the pavilion has grown.

It is now the centre for the village Rounders Club as well as providing the only community venue for meetings, parties and weddings. It is now in need of repair, redecoration and upgrading of facilities.

Brett Fleming-Jones, managing director of ICENI Waters Ltd, which bottles natural mineral water at source near Cambridge, comments: "Iceni Water is a healthy alternative to other bottled sugary soft drinks for people on the go.

"With obesity and sedentary living both growing problems in our society we launched the ICENI Refreshment Grant Fund in June 2009 to support participation in sport or activity at grass roots level to benefit the local community and encourage people to choose a healthy lifestyle.

"We've had an overwhelming number of applications but the one from Little Hallingbury Cricket Club stood out.

"It's clear that the club is working really hard to encourage locals to get active and also to provide a venue that extends well beyond cricket to become the heart of the rural community.

"This grant will enable them to improve their facilities further and we wish them the best of luck for the future."

Little Hallingbury Cricket Club is one of six applicants that were successful in the first round of awards from the ICENI Refreshment Fund. More details and a downloadable application form are available on the website www.iceniwaters.co.uk The next round of awards will be made at the end of December.