Streatham & Marlborough CC is proud to have been chosen by the England and Wales Cricket Board (out of 2500 other clubs) as a national showcase club to launch 2017’s NatWest CricketForce. This is one of the biggest events in our club’s history, so please offer your support!
What is NatWest CricketForce?
It’s the largest annual volunteering initiative in UK Sport, aiming to rejuvenate the nation’s cricket facilities. It encourages cricket supporters, their friends and families, and local businesses, to give something back to their local community cricket club by volunteering to participate in major renovation projects to clubhouses and grounds. Participation in NatWest CricketForce has rocketed since its launch in 2002, when just one showcase club took part. It’s now grown to over 2,500 clubs across the country and 100,000 volunteers.
When is it?
The main day will be on 31st March 2017 but the work will continue on 1st & 2nd April. Registration begins at 9.30 a.m. This event is also a major opportunity to raise awareness regarding our bid for a new pavilion and is one of the reasons we have been selected by the ECB.
Who will be in attendance?
Members from all sections of the club will attend along with friends and family who generously donate their time. CricketForce regular Mike Gatting will be with us for the day, leading a team to deliver one of our projects, plus a current England player, several Surrey players and some well-known cricket-loving politicians. NatWest and Surrey have also offered their support with staff attending, and Surrey’s catering team will be keeping attendees fed and watered. In addition to the ECB filming, there will be coverage from the BBC and Sky.
What do we plan to do?
We plan to use CricketForce to make the club a more welcoming environment for members and guests. The kinds of work that may need doing include: improving the car-park and front of house appearance; provision of a more obvious path to access the club; adding lighting to the path and garages; erecting high netting along shared boundary; installing wooden fencing along the pathway; painting all external fencing; disabled access to the pavilion; warmer and more obvious entrance to the pavilion; clearing the boundaries of the pitch of vegetation; general ground pre-season preparation. And much, much more – a lot can be accomplished in a day with a hundred or more people – everyone will be able to help, no matter what their skills and abilities.
There will also be cricket games and activities for children, free CricketForce t-shirts, opportunities to win bats and cricket gear, and newcomers wishing to join the club will be able to sign up on the day.
Streatham & Marlborough Cricket Club, Dulwich Common, London, SE21 7EX (just off the junction between the South Circular Road and Lordship Lane).
See also our Twitter @SMCricketClub and website www.streathammarlboroughcc.co.uk