Sport England: Active Together has provided £3,750 of match funding
Wells Cricket Club Crowdfunder 2022
Wells, Somerset, United Kingdom
Aim
Wells CC are fundraising to improve the on-pitch and off-pitch cricketing environment for all our players and supporters.
Wells Cricket Club is a community and participation club based in Mendip, Somerset. Our primary focus is providing engaging and fun cricket coaching for children and young people in a safe and welcoming environment.
The Club has achieved Clubmark Accreditation by demonstrating the best practices are in place to develop and deliver high quality community cricket in a safe, effective and child-friendly way.
Wells CC has a thriving junior section which has grown significantly in the last few years. Throughout the summer there are many playing opportunities for children of all ages to play sport and make new friends.
2022 looks set to be Wells CC's busiest year yet with even more junior and senior teams. Starting at 5yrs old boys and girls can join the ECB All Stars programme, progressing through the age groups from U9, U11, U13, U15 and U17. The newly formed Girls section expands again in 2022 with U11 and U13 Girls Softball teams as well as a brand new Women's Softball Team. Seniors will continue to play in the Somerset Cricket League in Div1 and Div7 on Saturdays, and now also be able to play mid-week T20 fixtures in the Mid-Wessex league and Sunday friendlies also make a come-back for 2022.
Wells CC U11 Girls with their trophy from Lady Taverners's soft ball tournament
Wells Colts (U15/U17 combination side) after their fixture at Millfield
Wells CC U11 players after a fixture in the TDYCL
Wells CC U13 players after their Wells v Wells fixture in TDYCL
What are we doing and why?
The Crowdfunder campaign in 2021 supported by Sport England allowed Wells Cricket Club to stay on track with our plans to build a dedicated 2-lane training facility. We're really excited for our facility to be built in the coming weeks! Unfortunately due to raw material availability and increases worldwide the cost of the training nets was substantially higher than quote a few months earlier. This meant all fundraising and club funds were needed to bridge the gap.
COVID-19 continues to impact revenue streams for the club. Clubhouse hire for events was dramatically impacted during the 21/22 winter with parties, quizzes and bingo nights all needing to be cancelled for various covid reasons.
Club volunteers continue to complete fundraising activities throughout the summer and winter from BBQs, to raffles and sponsored events. On the 19th March two of the senior players Dan Vassalli and Jack Moore take on a 24hour cycle side-by-side at the Bishop's Palace Wells. This challenge is raising funds for the charity MIND and Wells Cricket Club.
With costs continuing to increase, this Crowdfunder campaign is required to complete the bigger projects as detailed below.
What will the money be spent on?
The funding will be used on a number of key areas for the 2022 season:
- Finish the new training net area with landscaping, signage and new stumps
- Purchase practice equipment for junior training - both to replace existing aged equipment and to ensure more sessions can run simultaneously
- Add new picnic benches made of recycled plastic to replace the aged rotten ones
- Upgrade the basic and poorly located scoreboard with a solar powered digital scoreboard nr the new training nets
- Repair the storm damaged roof, notice boards, signage and clubhouse apex
- Update broken kitchen appliances and retire our incredibly old BBQ for a brand new one so we can keep flipping burgers after games.
These projects were decided on following feedback from players, parents and the community and they will add value to our community club and will benefit the experience for all visitors.
Digital scoreboard example - To be sited nr the new training net facility so can be seen by all supporters
Recycled plastic picnic benches - Same manufacturer as the park benches added in 2020 following a crowdfund by local residents
Who will benefit from this project?
Wells CC is a thriving community hub throughout the summer and provides a great place for families to watch and play sport. Achieving our target will allow us to continue providing great and safe sporting facilities for the whole local community.
In 2022 Wells CC will offer more playing options for juniors and seniors than ever before and host:
- Full junior pathway across multiple age groups open to current and future junior members
- 2 senior sides in the Somerset Cricket League, a mid-week T20 playing in the Mid-Wessex Cricket League and more friendly Sunday fixtures
- Western Storm Academy scheduled to train at the ground in 2022
- Expansion of the new dedicated Girls section with weekly training and fixtures led by the Somerset Cricket Foundation
- NEW Women's softball team playing in the Somerset Cricket Foundation Div3 Softball league and tournaments
- All Stars (5-8 year olds introduction to cricket)
- SASP School Cricket tournament day scheduled to return in 2022
- Local village clubs are welcome to use the facilities to help fellow grass-roots community cricket
The club as a whole will continue to be an active part of the community and host
- Family fun-day with lots of cricket for all the family
- Outdoor events with live music and BBQ
- Outdoor exercise classes open to all in the community including Zumba, Pilates an TaiChi
- 1-1 Personal Training sessions
- Clubhouse hire for a range of local groups including Mendip Ladies Group and NCT Mother & Baby groups
- Clubhouse hire for parties hosted by Wells CC or private event
Action shot: Family fun-day 2021
Looking forward to the 2022 season!
There's so much to be excited about this summer at Wells CC. We're ready and raring for an action-packed summer filled with smiles and sunshine and more cricket than ever before.
Thanks as always for your support!
Wells Cricket Club
Volunteer ground staff preparing the pitches for the season
Images from a 1st XI fixture in 2021: Image credit: N.Mortimer
This project successfully funded on 21st May 2022