Sport Northern Ireland: Creating Opportunities has provided £5,000 of match funding
BSK Cricket Club Youth Development 2026
Belfast, United Kingdom
Aim
Support the Belfast Super Kings Cricket Club Youth Development Programme
Belfast SuperKings Cricket Club Youth Development Programme 2026 - Phase 2
About Belfast SuperKings Cricket Club
Belfast SuperKings (BSK) Cricket Club is a proud member of the Northern Cricket Union and serves a growing and diverse community in South Belfast. Our membership reflects the multicultural nature of Northern Ireland, with players from a wide range of ethnic, cultural, and social backgrounds.
Our mission is to provide an inclusive, welcoming, and positive environment where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy cricket, develop their skills, and build lasting connections through sport. Alongside our senior teams, we are committed to growing participation among young people and women, ensuring cricket is accessible to everyone regardless of background or financial circumstances.
The club currently operates:
Senior Team – Senior League Section 3
Two Junior Teams – Junior League Section 10
Midweek Team – Midweek League
Previous Success and Community Impact
In 2025, Belfast SuperKings successfully delivered a free youth cricket programme at Carryduff Primary School with support from Sport NI funding.
The programme ran during August and September and engaged more than 70 children from the local community. The initiative demonstrated strong demand for accessible cricket opportunities and highlighted the positive impact that structured coaching can have on young people’s physical activity, confidence, teamwork, and social development.
The success of this pilot programme has encouraged us to expand and formalise our youth pathway for 2026.
Our Vision
Our vision is to establish a sustainable and inclusive youth cricket development programme that:
Provides free or highly affordable cricket coaching for children and young people.
Removes financial barriers to participation.
Encourages healthy lifestyles and regular physical activity.
Creates opportunities for children from diverse backgrounds to engage in sport.
Develops future players, volunteers, coaches, and community leaders.
Supports the continued growth of cricket across South Belfast and Northern Ireland.
Through this programme, we aim to create a clear pathway for young people to progress from introductory cricket sessions into junior league cricket and eventually senior club participation.
Why Funding is Needed
Demand for youth cricket continues to grow within our local community. Many families face financial pressures that make participation in organised sport difficult.
To ensure no child is excluded because of cost, Belfast SuperKings is committed to delivering a high-quality programme free of charge wherever possible.
Funding will allow us to:
Deliver structured coaching throughout the year.
Provide safe and suitable indoor and outdoor training facilities.
Purchase age-appropriate cricket equipment.
Train and support volunteer coaches.
Expand participation among underrepresented groups, including girls and children from minority ethnic communities.
Proposed Youth Development Programme 2026
The programme will consist of two structured 10-week coaching blocks delivered before and after Christmas, providing year-round development opportunities for young players.
Key features include:
Weekly coaching sessions.
Qualified and accredited coaches.
Safe and accessible training venues.
Cricket equipment provided for participants.
Inclusive sessions open to children of all abilities and backgrounds.
Pathways into junior league cricket and club membership.
We anticipate supporting over 80–100 young people throughout the programme.
Funding Request: £8,000
The requested funding of £8,000 will be invested directly into youth cricket development as follows:
Coach Development & Accreditation:
Training and upskilling volunteer coaches, safeguarding, first aid, and cricket coaching qualifications- £1,000
Coaching Delivery and Facility Hire
Qualified coaches delivering 15 - 20 weeks of structured youth coaching sessions, each lasting for 3 to 4 hours with estimated hourly hire rate of £60 - £4,100
Youth Equipment & Cricket Kits
Junior bats, balls, stumps, pads, gloves, helmets, kit bags, and training equipment. At least 20 full cricket kits (£120 each) tailored to different age groups - £2,400
Programme Administration & Volunteer Support
Registration, communication, volunteer expenses, safeguarding resources and programme delivery support - £500
Total Cost of the programme is £8,000
Expected Outcomes
Through this investment, Belfast SuperKings aims to:
Engage 80–100 children and young people in regular cricket activity.
Provide free or subsidised access to coaching and equipment.
Increase participation among girls and young people from diverse communities.
Develop additional volunteer coaches and club leaders.
Improve physical health, wellbeing, confidence, and social inclusion among participants.
Strengthen pathways into organised cricket across Northern Ireland.
Conclusion
The Belfast SuperKings Youth Development Programme represents a significant opportunity to expand access to cricket for children and young people across South Belfast.
Building on the success of our 2025 programme, which benefited more than 70 children, this funding will enable us to deliver a sustainable, inclusive, and high-quality coaching programme that removes barriers to participation and creates lasting community impact.
By investing £8,000 in this initiative, Sport NI will help create opportunities for young people to develop sporting skills, improve wellbeing, build confidence, and become active members of their community through cricket.
Together, we can make cricket more accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for the next generation of players in Northern Ireland.
Thank you for considering support for the Belfast SuperKings Cricket Club Youth Development Programme 2026.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 2nd September 2026 at 9:51pm