A READING theatre company is asking the town to do a "simple click" to help its chances of collecting up to £100,000 to boost its funds for a new theatre and arts centre.

While Reading Rep is currently fundraising and is close to its target of £400,000 for the converted building in King’s Road on the Reading College campus, a "simple click" online could boost its funds by £100,000.

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Reading Rep is asking people to log on to the Persimmon Homes website, which hosts a £1 million competition to give away cash for under 18s to health, sports, education and arts organisations, and vote for the theatre company within the next two weeks.

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Cash awards of £100,000, £50,000 or £20,000 will be made to those winning the most online votes.

Reading Rep artistic director, Paul Stacey, said: “We are up against lots of different organisations, but we’d urge people to vote for us as Reading Rep exists to provide access to the arts for all, including some of Reading’s most disadvantaged children.

“We currently perform in a small 50-seater space and the new theatre/arts and community centre will take us up to around 160 seats.”

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Nick Thompson, executive producer, added: “We are very excited for our plans – the building to be converted is a 1920s’ former Salvation Army Hall which has massive potential.

"The benefits to theatre-goers will be immense – and crucially the space will include a permanent education and learning centre allowing disadvantaged children to access our work."

To access the Persimmon Homes website, click here, where you can vote once each day.

A spokesperson for Persimmon Homes Thames Valley said: “Persimmon Homes is delighted to be joining forces with Team GB - the British Olympic Association - to give away over £1 million to help children in England, Wales and Scotland.

“As an official partner of Team GB, we are extremely proud to be supporting the organisation in the run up to, and beyond, the next Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“Building Futures, supported by Team GB, comes on the back of our hugely successful Healthy Communities competition, which in 2018 gave away more than £600,000 to support youth sport.”

Mr Stacey explained: “It takes such a short time to vote but the difference our new centre would make to the arts scene in Reading is vast.

"We’d like to thank everyone who has voted so far.

"Why not make a note in your diary to vote for us every morning and evening until the closing date?”

The voting closes at midnight on September 27.

Reading Rep hopes to begin the conversion of the building soon, with it being ready to open by spring 2020.