Programme selection

Silverdale and the community living in that area of North Staffordshire, have suffered greatly since the local colliery closed in 1998. The area is classed as a pocket of deprivation with a very fragile economy, falling in the 20% most deprived wards. Issues facing the local community include low earnings, benefit dependence, low levels of educational attainment, crime and fear of crime, housing problems, physical dereliction and ill health. Many young people leave school with no qualifications and have low expectations of what they can achieve in life.

Silverdale Cricket Club formed in 1856 and is the only sporting facility within a five mile radius (and the next nearest cricket facility does not provide the same community involvement). The existing site was used as a cricket pitch and practice area until it fell into a state of disrepair with little upgrade in the previous 80 years. Often the wicket was muddy and people found it difficult to use. The existing practice bays were put up by members of the club and over time the concrete cracked, making them too dangerous to play on.

It became clear through extensive consultation with the local community that they wanted an accessible, good quality provision at the heart of their area. They wanted practice bays, cricket covers and screens. This would allow for the facility to be open access for everyone – particularly young people – to use the facility in their own time.

The launch

There official opening event on 6th June 2007 was attended by Barclays colleagues and the Regional Manager. Staff and their families (40 children and 30 adults) spent the day at the club to celebrate the new facility.

Use of the site

Silverdale Cricket club is flourishing. There is a new found confidence in the club and lots of additional improvements have been made thanks to donations by various local businesses.

Local primary school children are offered free summer cricket coaching courses which include achievement awards. Children are then encouraged to join more formal organised sessions the club operate with a view to becoming full members.

During summer, 2007 the club hosted a visiting team from India. There was a real buzz and atmosphere around the match as the Sanmar Club squad contained 4 Test players.

Glynn Moore, the club development officer, said: “Prior to the Barclays Spaces for Sports investment we would probably never had tried to do something like inviting the visiting Indian team but now with the new facilities being as good as anyone else’s, why not?”

The club can also be used to attract support for various other local initiatives. For example, volunteers have been involved in litter picking (through the Action Earth Litter Pick days). These events were publicised through Silverdale Cricket Club’s strong links with the residents’ association and the local newsletter that goes out to everyone in the local community.

Local users have said the following about the site:

"I have been here 70 years and the facilities are a lot better - it’s welcoming for the young. The older ones love it too. More people are talking about the club now. I see people walking their dogs and they all come and look at the sign." (Gordon - aged 81)

"This project has improved the club’s social scene. People see we are going somewhere thanks to you. We have a lot of new players now; two years ago we were struggling for youngsters now we have 20 new young members." (Ian – Chair of Silverdale Cricket Club)

"When I moved here a year ago my boys hadn’t picked up a cricket bat. They saw these facilities and wanted to use them." (Tammy – girls’ coach)

Sustainability

The investment by Barclays Spaces for Sports has meant that desperately needed new playing and practice facilities for the club have been provided but, in addition to this, the funding has been leveraged to enable the club to raise standards across all their facilities – including new gates at the front entrance, new benches around the outfield, repairs to seating at the front of the clubhouse and new hanging baskets which provide a splash of colour! In addition to this, funds are raised to support a development officer who is working to grow the club’s reach and use in the community.

The money provided by the Barclays Spaces for Sports Development fund is helping to train new coaches, who will be instrumental in delivering the club’s three-year development plan. This aims to achieve the following:

• New coaching session for young people aged 14 – 19
• New coaching session for girls and women
• Create toddler sessions
• Create outreach sessions at local schools, as well as a series of picnic taster days
• Provide coaching for out of season and indoor cricket practice for both adults and children
• Provide improved coaching expertise (higher level) to support the above activities

The club is working more closely with the Staffordshire County Cricket Board’s Development Officer and will build on existing partnerships with local schools. They are also working with the local residents association and Sure Start to build up a reputation for providing easily accessible, safe facilities with a wealth of fully trained, local volunteers.