Brigade Cricket Club Creating Opportunities

Aim: Creating opportunities for more young players, especially girls by replacing our artificial wicket to enable safe, inclusive cricket for all

Who are we?

Brigade Cricket Club is a proud community cricket club located in the heart of the Waterside in Londonderry. With a rich history dating back to 1906, the club has long been a hub for cricketing talent and community engagement. We are committed to making cricket accessible to everyone, welcoming players of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Our home ground at Beechgrove provides a fantastic setting for training, matches, and social events, fostering a strong sense of belonging among members and supporters.

As a club deeply rooted in the local community, Brigade is dedicated to promoting youth development and inclusivity in sport. Our thriving junior section nurtures the next generation of cricketers, with a special emphasis on growing girls’ cricket and ensuring equal opportunities for all. We work closely with local schools and organizations to introduce more young people to the game, helping them build confidence, teamwork skills, and a love for cricket. 

Beyond the pitch, Brigade Cricket Club is more than just a team. Our volunteers, coaches, and supporters play a vital role in maintaining the welcoming and supportive atmosphere that makes the club special. Whether it’s through fundraising efforts or community outreach, everyone contributes to the success and growth of the club. As we continue to develop and strengthen our community ties, Brigade remains dedicated to ensuring cricket is a sport for all in the Waterside and beyond.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Participation Project: Breaking Barriers, Growing the Game

At Brigade Cricket Club, our core mission is to create inclusive, lasting opportunities for young people, particularly young girls to get involved in cricket, regardless of background, ability, or experience. Our participation project is specifically focused on increasing youth engagement, improving inclusion, and creating a sustainable pathway for long-term involvement in the sport.

Our goals are to:

• Increase the number of young people participating in cricket, with a strong focus on girls aged 8–15.
• Provide weekly coaching sessions throughout the season, delivered by qualified coaches.
• Establish school-club partnerships.
• Launch a "Smash It" programme. Through fun games and activities, children will discover the skills of batting, bowling, fielding, and wicket-keeping, all while developing fundamental movement skills like balance, coordination, and teamwork. 

These efforts will be promoted through targeted outreach and community engagement, ensuring that underrepresented groups, especially young girls have equal access to structured, ongoing participation opportunities.

Why the Artificial Wicket Is Essential

The installation of a new artificial wicket is critical to delivering our participation outcomes. Our current surface is unsafe, worn, and no longer suitable for youth or beginner sessions. It limits our ability to:

• Offer safe and inclusive training experiences,
• Run beginner-focused programmes (particularly for new youth players who need a safe environment),
• Host school visits or community events,
• Support skill development for youth players at all levels.

The new artificial wicket will provide a safe and consistent surface where new players can develop confidence and build their skills in a supportive setting. Without it, our growing participation programmes cannot be delivered effectively or safely.

Lasting Impact

With improved facilities and structured participation initiatives in place, our goal is to increase the number of girls involved in cricket at Brigade within the next two years, while also expanding access for boys and mixed groups. This capital investment directly supports our participation project by removing key barriers to involvement, enhancing the quality of experience, and ensuring cricket is accessible, fun, and safe for all young people in our community.

How we’ll spend the money raised

We are raising £10,000 to purchase and install a new artificial cricket wicket—an essential part of delivering our participation-focused project. The current surface is worn, uneven, and no longer safe or suitable for the growing number of young players joining the club, particularly beginners and young girls.

We are determined to raise the full amount through community fundraising, member contributions, and grant support, including funding from Sport NI’s Project Creating Opportunities, which helps us bridge the gap and turn this vision into reality.

This isn’t just an investment in our facilities—it’s an investment in the future of inclusive cricket at Brigade. By improving our playing surface, we can offer a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment where more young people—especially girls—feel confident to take part, develop their skills, and stay involved in the sport long-term. Together, we are building a stronger, more diverse cricket community for generations to come.

Community impact

A new, high-quality wicket will provide a safe, reliable, and consistent playing surface, enabling players of all ages and abilities to develop their skills and enjoy the game. This upgrade will also allow the club to strengthen partnerships with local schools and community groups, further increasing access to cricket in our area.

Supporting Under-Represented Groups: This project is dedicated to increasing opportunities for young people, particularly girls. Replacing the artificial mat is essential to fostering their development and expanding participation in the sport.

Building Resilience in Sport: By engaging participants in cricket-based activities as members of Brigade Cricket Club, we aim to instill lifelong sporting habits and encourage ongoing involvement.

Growing Membership and Participation: A new artificial mat will help expand club membership, supporting Sport NI’s objective of increasing participation in sport. Without this upgrade, Brigade’s youth teams would have to train and play at local schools, limiting their experience and creating a divide between junior and senior players. Ensuring they can develop at our home ground strengthens both their skills and their connection to the club.

With your support through Crowdfunder and Sport NI, we can install a new artificial wicket, ensuring equal opportunities and a thriving future for cricket at Brigade.

Help us level the playing field and create opportunities for our young players — donate today and be part of the future of Brigade Cricket Club.