Brooklands CC - Bouncing Back from Covid!

History

Our Cricket Club has been at the heart of the local Brooklands community since its formation in 1883, when seven local volunteer cricket visionaries launched a Special Fund, not unlike this one, to raise a modest £100 towards the development of the club grounds.

Progress

From those humble beginnings, the club has grown its offering significantly, but it is still very much dependent on the energy and vision of its committed volunteers and generous supporters. 

We are a club mark accredited cricket club, providing opportunities for participation in the game of cricket across 5 regular senior teams including an Over 40s side and 10 junior teams including our girls team, the Brooklands Bobcats. 

We are a leading hub for junior cricket development and an All Stars cricket centre, welcoming children as young as 5 from local schools to enjoy their first taste of cricket through fun games and skills.

Vision

Our vision is to provide high quality opportunities, for all, to enjoy the game of cricket. Our club charter sets out our commitments towards this aim:

• Inspiring and supporting individuals to achieve their full potential whilst playing at the highest standard.
• Developing Club and team identities through effective communication, leadership, and role models.
• Developing skills and attributes through coaching, support, and encouragement.
• Energising a strong sense of Club community characterised by the positive contribution made by its members.
• Promoting the sport of amateur cricket at all levels within the local community.

We will deliver this vision through the tireless work of our volunteers, the fantastic contribution of our members and the generous support of the wider community.

Impact of Coronavirus

The coronavirus pandemic has had an impact on us all but especially those who have suffered illness or the loss of loved ones. This human cost has, in contrast, put sport into perspective but our experience of lockdown has also made us appreciate just how important it is to our mental, physical, and social wellbeing.

Whilst we were lucky to enjoy some cricket through a shortened 2020 season, the restrictions on social gatherings made it impossible to go ahead with our calendar of fundraising events which are vital to club cashflow. With facilities closed, we have not been able to collect our normal income from subscriptions and matchday fees or from our junior winter coaching programme which had to be cancelled.

This lost revenue has left a shortfall in our finances and depleted reserves previously aligned to ground development and improvements projects.

Our Bouncing Back fund aims to raise money from within our community and beyond, to help us access available match funding from agencies which support sporting and physical activity in the UK.

Community 

Our facilities are used by:

• Local partner schools.
• Cheshire Cricket Board.
• Junior and senior male and female members.
• Spectators from the local community (free access to the ground on match days)

Brooklands CC is a focal point for the local community, where people of all ages can come together to enjoy the game of cricket. From your very first steps in cricket to competing in the county leagues, enjoying a social game with friends, umpiring, scoring or just watching from a picnic rug on the boundary, our club is a happy place for many people. A place where people stretch their legs, get active, develop new skills (on the pitch and off it), catch up with friends and share good times. 

The club is a place to escape to and a place to relax. The events of the past year have reminded us all what an important part our club plays, both in the lives and the mental and physical wellbeing of our community. This has inspired us and made us determined to help Brooklands CC bounce back from Covid. 

Funding Target

By supporting this vision, you will help secure long terms opportunities for people of all ages to get out in the fresh air, stay fit and healthy and enjoy the game of cricket safely for years to come.

• Purchase of a roll on practice net for use by all age groups, to improve safety and increase useable space on training nights.
• Essential coach education and safeguarding training.
• Replenishing bats, balls and training equipment for our coaching programmes.
• Purchase equipment to help our "Bobcats" girls team transition into hard ball cricket.
• Undertake much needed repairs to maintain our practice facilities to a safe standard for all to enjoy.
• Initiate a project to undertake much needed investment in our back square playing and changing facilities.

What Brooklands CC Means to Us

"We have loved being part of the club and being able to access the space throughout lockdown has made a real difference. Thank you." Brooklands CC Family members.

"Thank you for all the communication and efforts to keep the children active and engaged with cricket. The safe re-opening of the nets in the summer has been a real bonus to families and we really appreciate all the time and effort that the coaches have put in to still bring the boys together as a team in this time of lockdown. Thank you!" Parent from our U13s group.

"I have really missed playing games with my friends at the club and I can't wait to get back outside and smash some sixes!" U9s player.

How Can You Help Brooklands Bounce Back From Covid-19

Members, friends & family - If you can spare a donation, please select the amount from the options on the right hand side of our page or alternatively via the various products provided by the club and our partners.

Businesses - We have a variety of sponsorship options listed on the right hand side of our page. If you would like to talk to us about other commercial and sponsorship opportunities to suit your business or budget, please contact Nick Jones at [email protected] or 07948 272377

Crowdfunder is waiving its platform fees for community and charity crowdfunding projects during the coronavirus crisis. The Covid-19 epidemic has affected millions of people in the past year.

These are unprecedented times but together, we are stronger, and the response is coming from communities across the country.

Volunteer groups are springing up to tackle the logistical problems faced in our communities – but they need urgent support. That's where we come in.