Scotland: National Rural NetworkIn this article you can find out about the Community Development Coach, D&G Cricket Development project which was part funded by LEADER.
The purpose of the Dumfries and Galloway Youth Cricket Development Group is to expand upon the junior cricket played locally in schools and clubs and to encourage activity and fitness through sport.
The aim of this project is to provide the resource of a community development cricket coach for the region to support schools and local clubs. This started in 2009 with the appointment of a new part-time community cricket coach, Chris Stewart. A Level 2 coach, he now provides cricket coaching to children across the region encouraging them to take part in this growing sport by delivering coaching sessions to local schools, organising local competitions and assisting club coaches in developing their sessions.
These schools are linked with their local club to ensure that there is support for the school and a thriving group of such clubs in the future.
The area covered is Dumfries and Galloway. Just over a century ago cricket in the region was at its peak and many local villages had a team, or a club not so far away, as well as those in the main towns. The intention is to steadily increase the level of cricket in the area using the existing clubs as a catalyst.
Cricket Scotland in partnership with the regional council and the Dumfries and Galloway Cricket Development Group appointed Chris to this newly created role of community cricket coach for the region.
This project to develop junior cricket in Dumfries and Galloway is supported with funding from the Rural Dumfries and Galloway LEADER Programme, Cricket Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council's leisure and sport department, and local cricket clubs.
Advice and direction on funding this new community post was provided by Cricket Scotland and the Dumfries and Galloway Sports and Leisure department. It was through them that the group was first made aware of the LEADER Programme.
That has been establishing cricket sessions in primary schools across the region for pupils who have not had an opportunity to experience the sport of cricket first hand at their local school. This includes rural primary schools where sport in the form of cricket has been brought to their door.
"My biggest achievement is getting young people to have a go at playing cricket. It is not always straightforward getting young people playing and enjoying sport but it is a really good feeling when you go into a school and you see that the young people enjoy cricket and want to continue playing out with the school."
Getting cricket routinely established as a fixture in the calendar of local primary and secondary schools and as a regular after school activity. Then it is getting it taken up by the children as an out of school activity while ensuring that there is support in place for the long-term.
"My biggest challenge has been getting into schools sometimes. You can't simply turn up with equipment and take a session. There are many other sports established in the schools that are much bigger at the moment in our area and sometimes those involved have to be convinced that having a go at cricket will be beneficial to the pupils."
Have a good understanding of the various facets of your project and how they are significant to the goals of any funding body approached. All aspects of the project need to be clearly understood to scope it out and then you can convey the importance of your goals to any external bodies.
More information can be obtained at the DG Cricket Group website at http://dgcricket.org.uk/. There contact can be made with the group and also the new community coach for the region.
