Who are we?
North Down CC are one of the oldest cricket clubs in Ireland and have a new found focus upon developing the sport for all within the local and wider community.
We engage over 150 youth members annually, aged 4-19, in our youth pathway and summer schemes, with a growing focus on girls' participation. Our club has made significant strides in youth development and we have developed a coaching team and projects for and within the local community to broaden the reach of the sport.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We want to grow our club and expand our reach into the community and believe that cricket should be accessible to everyone, regardless of gender, background, or ability. We work with schools and community groups and continuing and expanding cricket provision is vital for the future of our club, especially as we aim to develop the next generation of female cricketers. We cannot provide these projects on our own and require financial backing to expand our reach especially during the winter period.
How we’ll spend the money raised - The Project
Our initiative is designed to build a strong foundation for girls' cricket in our community, helping younger players transition smoothly into club cricket, excel for their school and further strengthening our school-club links. The "into cricket" project represents a new initiative, distinct from our regular day-to-day activities. Traditionally, our club's focus has been on seasonal outdoor cricket, with most coaching and matches taking place in the spring and summer months. This winter programme, however, marks a significant expansion of our offering, aimed specifically at engagement for women and girls—many of whom have had limited opportunities in sports historically.
Here’s how this new programme will address those traditionally excluded from participating in sport and physical activity:
Support for Women and Girls: Cricket has often been seen as a male-dominated sport, with fewer opportunities for women and girls to play and develop their skills. The project with introduce the sport to a local wider audience and will provide structured indoor cricket sessions, offering women and girls a dedicated space to learn and improve their game in the off-season.
Focus on Inclusivity: Many of the participants in our programme come from backgrounds where access to sports is limited—whether due to socioeconomic barriers, gender biases, or a lack of local facilities. We will run women and girls-only sessions to create a safe and encouraging environment for all.
Coaching Development and Mentorship: The project will also involve targeted coaching development for female coaches and volunteers, helping them become role models and mentors for younger participants.
The project will engage 100 hours of activity engagement for the local community with coaching and activity sessions taking place throughout January - March 2025. These sessions will introduce the sport to girls of all ages and encourage participation and assimilation in to the club season from April onwards. We will work with local schools Andrews Memorial / Comber Primary and Nendrum College as well as linking with Girls Brigade Groups and Community Orgs in the local area.
The budget / funding will support three community cricket coaches plus pay for hall hire and specialist equipment to make all activities fun, safe and enjoyable.
How You Can Help
Your support will enable us to provide a quality project which will have a lasting impact for girls / women and our club. Our project aligns with Sport NI's "Creating Opportunities" programme by focusing on women and girls, a target group that is underrepresented in sports. We are committed to levelling the playing field by making cricket accessible to all and ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has the chance to play, coach, and lead in our club.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!