The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is one of 16 National Governing Bodies to receive a significant Exchequer funded financial boost this week.
Cricket Clubs across England and Wales will benefit from grants awarded through Sport England’s Community Club Development Programme which targets clubs and grass roots sport.
The Community Club Development Programme is worth £31 million with Cricket receiving £2.5 million for 95 projects in the first year.
One recipient is the New Brighton Cricket Club, Wallasy which receives a grant of £46,329. The 150-year-old Club will use the grant to reclaim a derelict piece of land for a four lane net facility. The new practice area will be used to coach the 120 junior girls and boys and for the senior teams.
Buckingham Cricket Club have also received £44,275 to re-lay their square, including the replacement of an artificial strip, with two additional new practice strips. Again, the facilities will be used by, amongst others, the sixteen junior teams and disability coaching sessions. Buckingham will also use funds to increase their links to schools and pre-school groups in the community.
A major part of the Programme is to develop links between Cricket Clubs and Schools and David Leighton, ECB National Development Manager for Clubs said ‘An injection of money directly to clubs is a massive boost for cricket and all young cricketers. Club Cricket is the heart of our game and will provide opportunities for boys and girls to enjoy the game in their communities after school and during school holidays’.
The ECB were invited to bid directly to The Treasury for funds and have strategic management of grant recipients in line with national priorities for cricket.
It is the first time that Exchequer funding has been allocated directly to Governing Bodies in this way and provides cricket with an opportunity to reward clubs which show best practice across a range of criteria from club development to child protection and to target areas and clubs most in need.
For further information, please contact Andrea Wiggins,
ECB Media Relations Officer, 020 7432 1272