Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC

Aim

To create pathways into cue sports and darts for those who may otherwise lack the opportunity, or resources to participate and succeed.

Who are we?

Founder Emma Cunningham is a six-time World Champion and current World Champion. Despite her success, Emma spent over 20 years balancing full-time work, local sponsorship and competition winnings to fund her sporting career. Having experienced inequality, funding barriers and limited opportunities first-hand, she created Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC to ensure future generations have access to the support she wished had existed when she started.

As the youngest-ever female World Champion at just 18 years old, Emma understands both the opportunities that sport can create and the barriers that prevent many talented people from reaching their potential.

Through Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC and its trading branches (to be incorporated in later project phases), we will create inclusive opportunities in cue sports and darts, supporting women, girls, young people, people with disabilities, individual athletes and teams from grassroots to international level through coaching, mentoring, funding, facilities and community programmes across the UK and Ireland.

Our mission is to break down barriers, build confidence and create pathways for people to achieve their potential both in sport and in life.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC exists to remove barriers to participation and progression in cue sports and darts for groups that are often underrepresented or disadvantaged, including women, girls, young people, people with disabilities and aspiring athletes from all backgrounds. Through accessible coaching, mentoring, equipment support, training opportunities and community programmes, Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC will help people develop skills, confidence, well-being and social connections while creating clear pathways for personal and sporting development. We are committed to creating opportunities regardless of gender, disability, financial circumstances, ethnicity, sexual orientation or background.

Funds raised will support the establishment and delivery of Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC, including setup costs, governance, safeguarding, website development, pilot coaching sessions across England and NI, equipment provision, bursaries to reduce financial barriers and offer community participation programmes for women, girls, young people, participants with disabilities and aspiring cue sports and darts athletes and teams. The project will deliver positive social impact by promoting equality, inclusion, physical activity, mental well-being and community cohesion.

As a Community Interest Company with an asset lock, all surpluses will be reinvested into community benefit, ensuring that funding creates sustainable and lasting impact for the people and communities we serve.

How you can play your part

Every contribution, regardless of size, will help create opportunities for people who may otherwise be excluded from participation and progression in cue sports and darts. Together, we can build a lasting legacy that supports current and future generations of athletes and community participants.

There are six 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!

5.Host a Tournament, league, exhibition or fundraiser. Clubs, venues and organisers can help by adding an optional donation alongside entry fees or by running dedicated fundraising events in support of Pathways.

6. Look out for our collection boxes and QR donation points located within supporting venues across the UK.

Businesses and sponsors supporting this campaign will be helping to create lasting opportunities for people within their communities while demonstrating a commitment to equality, inclusion and community development.

Together, we can ensure that talent, determination and potential—not financial circumstances—determine how far someone can go.

What your donation could do......

£10    Helps provide coaching resources

£25    Supports a participant at a pilot session

£50    Contributes towards equipment grants

£100    Helps fund coaching delivery

£250    Could fund an athlete equipment grant

£500    Could support a national representative

£1,000+    Helps fund a full community programme

How we’ll spend the money raised

How We'll Spend £35,000

We are crowdfunding phase 1 of the project which is to launch Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC and deliver our first community programmes across England and Northern Ireland. Funds will help cover essential start-up costs including governance, safeguarding, website development, equipment, pilot venue hire, coaching delivery and participant support. Most importantly, your support will help create accessible opportunities for women, girls, young people, people with disabilities and aspiring athletes who may otherwise face barriers to participation and progression in cue sports and darts. Together, we can build pathways, break down barriers and create a lasting legacy in our communities.

Where appropriate, funds may be combined with grants, sponsorship and donations secured from other sources to maximise community impact. No expenditure will be funded twice.

Building Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC (£5,000)

Website & Hosting £1,500 

Insurance £750 

Safeguarding & DBS £500

Branding & Marketing£ 1,000 

Governance & Compliance£1,250

England Pilot Programme (£8,500)

Venue Hire £1,500

Coaching Delivery £4,000

Equipment £1,000

Marketing £750

Volunteer Expenses £1,250

Northern Ireland Pilot Programme (£8,500)

Venue Hire £1,500

Coaching Delivery £4,000 

Equipment £1,000

Marketing £750

Volunteer Expenses £1250

Athlete Support & Bursary Fund (£10,000)

Equipment Grants£1,500

Athlete Development Fund £2,500

Women's Development Fund £2,500

Youth Talent Fund £2,000

National Representation Fund £1,500

Monitoring & Growth (£1,500)

Impact Reporting £500

Partnership Development £500

Volunteer Training £500

Contingency Fund (£1,500)

Reserved for:

• Venue cost increases
• Additional coaching demand
• Equipment replacement
• Software subscriptions
• Banking and transaction fees
• Unforeseen delivery costs

Total Crowdfunding Target

CIC Setup £5,000

England Pilots £8,500

NI Pilots £8,500

Bursary & Grant Funds £10,000

Monitoring & Growth £1,500

Contingency £1,500

TOTAL £35,000

Community impact

Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC will deliver benefits far beyond sport. While our primary focus is to increase participation and opportunities in cue sports and darts, our wider aim is to create a welcoming and inclusive community where people can develop confidence, build social connections and improve their well-being.

The project will particularly benefit women, girls, young people, people with disabilities and individuals who may face barriers to participation due to financial circumstances, social isolation or lack of access to suitable facilities and support. Through coaching, mentoring and community programmes, participants will develop transferable skills such as communication, resilience, teamwork, leadership and self-confidence.

In addition to sporting activities, Eights and Arrows aims to provide safe and accessible spaces where people can meet, learn and engage with their community. Future facilities will be available for workshops, mentoring sessions, educational activities, social groups, community events and well-being initiatives, creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect and support one another.

By bringing people together through shared interests and inclusive activities, the project will help reduce social isolation, improve mental well-being, encourage active lifestyles and strengthen community cohesion. Our goal is to create a lasting community asset that delivers positive social impact both on and off the sporting stage.

Making a difference

This campaign is about more than launching a CIC.

It is about creating a pathway where no talented player misses an opportunity because they cannot afford equipment, coaching, travel or competition costs.

Our Phase 1 target is to raise £25,000 to establish Eights and Arrows Pathways CIC, launch our first coaching programmes in England and Northern Ireland, develop safeguarding and governance systems, and create the foundations for our athlete bursary and grant schemes. Any funds raised above our target will be invested directly into expanding bursaries, grants and community programmes.

Phase 2 will expand opportunities regionally and beyond. Our long-term goal is to build a UK-wide network supporting athletes from grassroots participation to international representation.

With your support we will:

✅ Launch the CIC and governance structure

✅ Deliver free and subsidised coaching sessions

✅ Establish athlete bursaries and equipment grants

✅ Support women, girls, young people and participants with disabilities

✅ Launch the National Representation Fund

✅ Award the first Emma Cunningham Scholarship, providing financial assistance, mentoring and development opportunities to a promising athlete who demonstrates commitment, potential and need.

✅ Build partnerships with clubs, venues and community organisations

Target Impact (Year One)

• Support at least 25 athletes through grants, bursaries and development opportunities in Year One.
• Engage at least 100 participants through free and subsidised coaching programmes across England and Northern Ireland.

Expanding Opportunities Across the UK

As Pathways grows, we aim to:

🎯 Establish regional Pathways Spaces.

🎯 Increase bursary and scholarship funding

🎯 Create dedicated women's and girls' development programmes

🎯 Launch disability participation initiatives

🎯 Develop youth talent pathways

🎯 Support teams competing nationally and internationally

🎯 Build a network of coaches, mentors and ambassadors

Target Impact:

• 100+ athletes supported annually
• Multiple regional programmes
• National scholarship programme established

Building the UK's Most Inclusive Cue Sports & Darts Development Network

Our long-term vision is to:

🏆 Become the leading athlete support organisation in cue sports and darts

🏆 Operate a UK-wide network of Pathways branches

🏆 Provide significant scholarship funding to talented athletes

🏆 Support county, national and international representatives

🏆 Create opportunities regardless of age, gender, disability or financial circumstances

🏆 Develop future champions and community leaders

🏆 Work alongside Eights and Arrows HQ venues to create sustainable funding for athlete development

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 16th September 2026 at 11:20am