Downpatrick CC - Women and Girls Programme

Aim: Downpatrick CC aim to use this Crowdfunder support to help support the growth of our women and girls section in 2025.

Club Background

Downpatrick Cricket Club is over 175 years old and has a rich history of success in the Northern Cricket Union and Cricket Ireland competitions. Our ground, The Meadow, has hosted numerous domestic finals and fifteen Senior International matches. Currently, we field a 1st XI in Section 2 of the NCU and a midweek league team. Our club has always been committed to growing the game, and our focus now is on expanding opportunities for women and girls to get involved in cricket, with an aim to introduce more formal league participation for these teams in 2024.

In recent years, Downpatrick Cricket Club has been able to expand significantly, adding a 2nd XI and 3rd XI, along with underage boys' teams at U11, U13, and U15 levels. We now aim to continue this growth by introducing and developing women and girls’ teams, including providing outreach programmes to attract new participants and offering more structured support for current female members. Our goal is to engage young girls in cricket through targeted initiatives, providing them with both introductory and advanced coaching, and to help them transition into competitive cricket through our senior women’s teams.

What is our project?

Downpatrick Cricket Club is raising funds to support the growth of our women and girls’ coaching and outreach programmes. These funds will help us build a sustainable cricket pathway for women and girls, offering both social and competitive cricket opportunities. We plan to deliver sessions at 10 local schools in 2026, providing free coaching during and after school hours. These sessions will cater to all ability levels and will focus on inclusion, making cricket accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Through this outreach, we aim to increase club membership, grow our junior girls’ programme, and develop a strong pipeline of players who can progress to our senior women’s team.

How will the money be spent?

The funds raised will directly contribute to the development of female cricket at Downpatrick. We will purchase Kwik cricket sets and balls to support both beginners and more experienced players. We will also invest in appropriate playing equipment, safety gear, and specific kits for our female squad, ensuring a professional and welcoming environment. Additionally, the money will support our schools outreach programme, allowing our coaches to run events at our home ground and facilitate softball and hardball fixtures. This will provide continued opportunities for development and enhance the overall quality of our women and girls’ cricket programme. The funds will also allow us to extend our nets to ensure a safer coaching environment with an additional 3 meters of protective netting.

Who will benefit from this project?

• The Club – We will see an increase in membership, more volunteers, and a more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming environment for everyone in the community.

• The Community – Young people in Downpatrick and the surrounding areas will gain access to new sporting opportunities, encouraging social interaction, fitness, and fun among peers. This initiative will contribute to the growing support for women’s sport in Northern Ireland.

• The Local Schools – Schools in our catchment area will benefit from high-quality coaching, inspiring girls to engage with cricket and maintain participation in sports outside of school.

• Our Female Cricketers – Both our existing and new female players will enjoy the opportunity to try a new sport, meet new people, and maintain an active lifestyle in a supportive and fun environment.

This project marks a significant step for Downpatrick Cricket Club, as it is the first time we are offering girls-only cricket sessions in schools. Previously, the club has run mixed sessions, but this initiative is focused specifically on engaging young girls with cricket, something we have not done before. Our aim is to build a solid foundation for girls' cricket by introducing them to the sport in a structured, supportive environment. The sessions will target girls who have not yet participated in cricket, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and participation, ensuring that every girl feels welcome and empowered to take part. We’re also putting a dedicated effort into developing a sustainable junior girls’ programme that will eventually feed into our senior women’s team. This marks the beginning of a broader, long-term plan to build a thriving women’s and girls’ section within our club.

Budget Breakdown:

Total: £10,000 – This covers all equipment, coaching, and safety improvements needed to successfully run the programme and ensure its sustainability.

• Health and Safety Improvements: £5000 – We will use these funds to extend the protective netting at our existing nets. The current netting is not suitable for the increased volume of participants we anticipate through this programme, and safety is a priority. By adding additional panels of netting, we can ensure a safer environment for our players, particularly as we expect to see a higher turnout as a result of this outreach work. This extension will prevent accidents and give us the space to safely accommodate both coaching and match scenarios.

• Schools Coaching Costs: £3000 – The funds will be used to cover 150 hours of coaching at 10 primary schools in the area. Each session will cost £20 per hour, which will be paid to our qualified coaches. This coaching will take place during and after school hours, providing flexible opportunities for girls to get involved. The outreach programme aims to reach a diverse group of girls with varying skill levels, allowing them to experience cricket in a fun, supportive environment.

• Equipment: £2000 – The equipment breakdown is as follows:

  • 6 hard ball bundles, each costing £250, will provide essential gear for those progressing to hard ball cricket. This includes bats, helmets, gloves, and other protective equipment, totalling £1500.

  • We will also purchase 6 Kwik cricket sets at £50 each to support beginners and younger players, totalling £300. These sets are designed for entry-level players and will make it easier for girls to get started with the sport.

  • 200 tennis balls will be purchased at £1 per ball, totalling £200. These will be used during introductory sessions to help develop basic skills in a non-competitive, low-pressure setting.

Timeframe:
The programme is set to run over 20 weeks, beginning in January 2026. This will allow us to deliver comprehensive coaching and outreach across the schools, ensuring we engage with as many girls as possible. The extended timeframe also gives us the opportunity to adjust and refine our approach as needed based on participant feedback and attendance, ensuring that we meet the needs of the local community effectively.

Through your support, we can provide a clear pathway for women and girls in Downpatrick to engage with cricket and reach their full potential.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 7th August 2025 at 8:38am