Two Haverhill Rovers youth team don new kits thanks to donations from West Suffolk and Cam Valley crematoriums

Two crematoria have teamed up to support Haverhill Rovers FC by donating £2,000 to provide two of its teams with new kit.

Cam Valley Crematorium, in Great Chesterford and West Suffolk Cemetery & Crematorium, in Risby, near Bury St Edmunds, each donated £1,000 to the club, enabling it to buy new kit for its U13 girls and U9 boys sides.

The donations came from the crematoria’s metal recycling scheme.

With the consent of families, metals recovered during cremation are recycled, and any money raised is used to support selected charities, local activities and environmental initiatives which benefit communities served by the crematoria, which are part of the Westerleigh Group, an operator of crematoria and cemeteries.

Divisional operations manager Claire Butcher visited the club alongside Cam Valley Crematorium manager Lee Wilkins, who said: “As Claire and I were leaving a parent came up to us and thanked us for funding the kit and her son said, ‘we feel like a real team now’.”

Claire added: “Every crematorium within Westerleigh Group works to provide a positive presence within their surrounding communities and one of the ways we do this is by making donations from our metal recycling scheme.

“Many donations go to charities and other organisations which provide support services to families, but we also provide support for schools and sports clubs, all of which make a positive contribution to the lives of local people.

“Being involved in regular sports activities from a young age is excellent for physical and mental welfare, but with the cost of living crisis, many sports and other activity groups are finding it increasingly hard.

“Supporting these teams means that the players can step out onto the pitch in their new kit with pride, and if they feel as if they look like winners, perhaps this will help get them the results they want, too.

“It’s an honour to be able to support a club which brings so much joy to local children.”

To find out more about Cam Valley Crematorium and West Suffolk Cemetery & Crematorium, and the exceptional care and services it provides, visit: www.camvalleycrematorium.co.uk and www.westsuffolkcrematorium.co.uk