Shifnal Cricket Club Covid-19 Fundraising

SHIFNAL CRICKET CLUB - BACKGROUND

• Established in 1849 Shifnal Cricket Club is a clubmark accredited English Cricket Board Club, with four adult cricket teams (men and women, ages 16+), a women's hardball team (ages 13+), a women's soft ball team and numerous junior teams. We participate in the Birmingham and District Premier League, Shropshire County Cricket League, Shropshire Women’s Hardball League and Shropshire Junior Leagues for both boys and girls.
• The club has two grounds, Priorslee Road which is used by the 1st and 2nd XI's and Weston which is used for home games for the 3rd and 4th XI's. Our junior and women's teams play at both grounds allowing us to organize a high number of games each week. Also located on the grounds of Priorslee Road is Shifnal Bowls and Tennis Club.
• We host annual Minor Counties fixtures, practice T20 matches between Shropshire and Worcestershire and Warwickshire CCC and Shropshire Disabled training sessions and matches. 
• We are reliant on volunteers to run all aspects of the club and have a thriving junior section with over 100 boys and girls aged 6 to 15. We welcome any new members from a diverse range of backgrounds and ethnicities.

WHY WE ARE FUNDRAISING

Covid-19 Impact

With the clubs facilities being closed for the majority of 2020 due to Covid-19,  a significant amount of revenue has been lost via a lack of annual subscriptions, bar takings, venue hire and the postponement of our Summer Ball and Fireworks evening.

Whilst the club has been able to take advantage of government grants to assist with cashflow, we have had to use funds allocated to capital projects to survive.

What this means to SCC

We are faced with not being able to fund vital projects needed to support the growth of the club, including:

• Groundsman Equipment - Our outfield mower is nearing the end of its lifespan with constant repairs undertaken over the past number of years. The expected cost of a new outfield mower is between £10-£15,000. 
• Junior Coaching Equipment - Purchasing new aids and stock items to improve the offer we provide our juniors.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Fundraising

We are reaching out for donations and purchases of our rewards to help contribute towards the cost of the new mower. It is hoped that we will receive 50% matched funding from Sport England which will go a long way to allow us to achieve this goal.

We are extremely lucky to have the facilities we have at Priorslee Road, regularly touted as one of the finest in the region. With your assistance we can continue to invest in both of our grounds to maintain the highest possible standards for all our members and the local community.

Thank you in advance from all at Shifnal Cricket Club.

SCC IN THE COMMUNITY

In 2011 the pavilion was overhauled and as part of this project the club prepared a women and girls cricket development plan, aimed at increasing the number of female playing members over the next three years.  

The reconstructed pavilion was officially opened by Baroness Rachel Heyhoe – Flint and has allowed the community to hire the pavilion for social and work events.

2014 was a very big year for the club:

• Recognised via the Energize Awards as the Shropshire Community Club of the Year and were also successful in the same category at the regional West Midlands Community Sports Awards.
• Further funding was secured to level the outfield, a major task which has allowed the club to enhance its coaching offer by increasing coaching areas and improve safety for those that use the ground. 
• This meant that during the winter Shifnal's local junior football teams were able to train and play matches on the ground.

Our members and the wider community benefit from a number of initiatives at the club, including:

Volunteer led cricket coaching and competitive matches for over 100 juniors aged 6-15.

• 2 coaching sessions a week in the summer for boys and girls
• Up to 10 matches per week during the summer
• Winter indoor coaching sessions

Working with local schools:

• Providing cricket coaching
• Hosting numerous primary and secondary regional cricket festivals

Social Events:

• Regular quiz nights, BBQ's, a Summer Ball and an annual President's Day.
• The Big Slog - in 2020 the club raised over £5,000 as part of its fundraising for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital Intensive Care Unit and Ward 26, after a life member of the club had fallen seriously ill.
• Annual fireworks night, which has become an established community event with on average 3,000 spectators.
• For two weeks in February 2021 the clubs pavilion became a Covid-19 walk in rapid testing centre, offering a walk in service for the local community.