NETBALL club YWCA Bury is appealing for local support to help win a national online vote and earn a £500 funding boost from Skipton Building Society's Grassroots Giving scheme.

YWCA Bury is one of more than 370 organisations from across the UK – 108 in the North West – shortlisted for an award.

After voting stops on Friday, October 14, the 163 with the most votes will each receive a grant of £500, which YWCA Bury plan to put towards the money it pays out to hire court time at Bury Grammar School.

The club's statement on the Grassroots Giving website said: "The club was established in 1958 and over that time has supported a vast array of women to play netball.

"At the moment, the club has members from all sorts of backgrounds, including a number of mums, students, full and part-time workers and players who are unemployed.

"Our oldest member won’t see 40 again while our youngest are 16.

"This cross-section of ages and backgrounds brings people together who wouldn’t normally in day to day life.

"The club is run by a small committee of volunteers, who give up their time to organise training, matches, socials and marketing.

"We recognise that cost can be a barrier to participation in physical activity.

"The funding from Grassroots Giving would be used specifically to support overheads hiring playing facilities at Bury Grammar School for the next season, allowing further fundraising efforts to be undertaken that would support facility hire for subsequent seasons.

"As all our facility costs are currently covered by subs from users, a £500 funding grant would ensure we do not need to increase costs to users over the next few years, meaning equality of access for all members of the local community is maintained, as cost can be removed as a barrier."

Committee member, and player, Clare Morley added: "The club is all about bringing women together from across the local area to have fun, keep active and make some great memories through the common thread of netball.

"As a completely voluntary organisation, we work hard to achieve this on very little resources, so support from Skipton Building Society would be a real boost for the volunteers, as well as a huge help for the club’s participants."

To vote for YWCA Bury, visit www.skiptongrg.co.uk/apply-for-funding/2016-shortlisted-groups/north-west/ywca-bury-netball-seniors/