Installation of a non-turf pitch training facility

Aim

Progress our cricket club with a modern NTP facility where members and the community can train, grow skills, and share a passion for cricket

Who are we?

Turners Hill Cricket Club is a thriving, forward-looking village club at the heart of our West Sussex community. Founded in the mid-1800s, we’re proud of our long history as Turners Hill’s leading sports club — and even prouder of the energy driving our exciting new chapter.

After a short pause in 2018, as a result of decreased investment and limited participation, a fresh vision was born during the challenges of a COVID-impacted 2020 season: to reform and build a club that’s sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity for the community we serve. Since 2021, we’ve grown from a single men’s team into a vibrant community hub offering cricket for everyone — men, women, and children of all abilities.

Our All Stars and Dynamos programmes welcome over 100 young players each season, and 2025 marked the launch of our first women’s softball team — a testament to the passion and spirit that now defines Turners Hill CC. Seeing our members, especially our women and children, thrive on the cricket pitch and  building new relationships continues to spur us on to make the club bigger and better with each passing season. 

As a club, we have set ourselves some ambitious targets, focused on expanding participation, improving our facilities, and creating a lasting legacy for future generations. With every match, training session, and community event, we’re building more than a cricket club — we’re building the future of Turners Hill.

Why are we crowdfunding?

At present, Turners Hill Cricket Club does not have any dedicated training facilities — all matches and practice sessions take place on the same shared pitch. As a result, this makes scheduling difficult to manage and limits opportunities for our growing membership base. As participation across our men’s, women’s, and junior teams continues to rise, this lack of space is holding us back from expanding further. By crowdfunding, we aim to create a dedicated training area that will allow matches and practice to run side by side, giving every player more time to develop their skills and helping the club continue to grow at the heart of our community.

As a community-run club with limited resources, Turners Hill Cricket Club relies heavily on member contributions and sponsorship to operate and provide cricketing opportunities to our community. Recent investment in essential ground equipment to support our growing number of players has strengthened our day-to-day cricket offering, but has resulted in needing further funding to help support  larger projects. 

How we’ll spend the money raised

The funds raised through this campaign will go directly towards the installation of a brand-new, two-lane non-turf training facility — a high-quality, all-weather surface that can be used year-round. This much needed facility will provide a dedicated space for players of all ages and abilities to train, improve their skills, and enjoy cricket in a safe and consistent environment. The facility will be a huge step forward in supporting the continued growth of our men’s, women’s, and junior sections, while also serving as a valuable community asset for local cricket development.

A significant portion of the total estimated £40,000 project cost has already been secured through sponsorship and grants, as well as a contribution from Mid Sussex District Council. Sport England has also kindly pledged £5,000 to our project if we raise another £5,000 through Crowdfunding. With this in mind, we are now turning to our community to help bridge the remaining funding gap through crowdfunding. Every contribution will bring us closer to completing this vital project — covering not only the remaining construction costs but also the planning application required to make our new training facility a reality for Turners Hill.

If we fortunately manage to raise funds beyond our initial target of £10,000, the club use this additional money to reinvest in other facilities, including our clubhouse, which is in need of renovations to bring it up to modern standards and make the venue suitable for all members and guests. We need to make improvements to this space to support our diverse membership.

Community impact

This project, for those involved with the club, is about more than just cricket — it’s about creating a shared community space that encourages active, healthy living for everyone in and around Turners Hill. A dedicated year-round training facility will allow us to expand our programmes for juniors, women, and beginners, opening the door for more local residents to get involved in sport, whether for fitness, friendship, or personal development. The provision of better facilities will attract more adults and children to join us, which in turn will hopefully lead to further participation from volunteers to support the club and help it grow further. This new facility will also provide a welcoming environment for children to learn teamwork, confidence, and resilience through cricket — life skills that will serve them well for the future. As a club, we are passionate about giving people these opportunities within their own community – this is really important to us, to give children those opportunities without having to seek such opportunities elsewhere.

Beyond the sport itself, the new facility will become a focal point for village life, strengthening the community spirit that Turners Hill is known for. With more events, coaching sessions, and inclusive opportunities available, the ground will be a hive of activity throughout the Spring and Summer months. This investment will not only enhance cricketing opportunities but also support local wellbeing, create a safe and social gathering space, and ensure the club continues to play a vital role at the heart of our village for generations to come.

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!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made