Revised article updated: Friday 17 April, 6:00pm
Article first released: Thursday 26 March, 10:00am
Essex Cricket in the Community
Dan Feist – Cricket Operations – [email protected]
Graham Pryke – Leagues and Clubs, Lead on Funding – [email protected]
Natalie Samaranayake – Women & Girls, Youth – [email protected]
Phil Knappett – Safeguarding and on-line courses – [email protected]
Arfan Akram – East London Clubs and Leagues – [email protected]
A message from Dan Feist, Head of Cricket Operations, Essex Cricket
“In these unprecedented times it is fundamental that we first acknowledge the role we can all play in supporting each other to be safe, but once some form of normality starts to return, the role of Clubs as a Community Hub to spark excitement and engagement for all is going to be more important than ever before.
“Throughout history, Cricket Clubs have provided a united and reliable place for the community to come together and it has been great to see and hear so many positive stories about how this is continuing, despite the current situation. The news this week about the financial support that will be available for Clubs alongside other government initiatives comes at a welcome time for all.
“We will be now working with Clubs across the County to make sure they have all the support they need to ensure that they can continue to support their local community and remain a vital part of the wider Essex Cricket family.”
Current Government Advice
All the latest details can be found via: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Funding & Financial Support
Further to ECB’s announcement on 31 March, today the ECB announced its Loan and Grant Scheme:
The Grant has been launched as the final resort so we would, therefore, encourage all Clubs and Leagues to ensure they have applied for the following first:
1. Government’s Local Authority Small Business Grant. For more information – click here
2. Sport England Funding – click here
3. The ECB Loan scheme – click here
4. The ECB Grant – click here
Please also consider visiting the following resources;
https://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/
https://www.activeessex.org/
https://londonsport.org/
ECiC Guidance
ECiC has put together the following guidance that member clubs are recommended to act on.
Club Roadshows – Webinars
After the success of hosting a Roadshow at The Cloudfm County Ground earlier this year, the feedback was to continue communication and updates where possible. To support this, the ECiC Team and wider Essex Cricket Staff are delighted to be hosting a number of Virtual Webinar Roadshows, here are the details of the roadshows:
Thursday 23 April: 5pm – 5.30pm – Club Development / Funding
Tuesday 28 April: 12pm – 12.30pm – Volunteering, Governance, Safeguarding
Thursday 30 May: 5pm – 17.30pm – Grounds Maintenance
Tuesday 5 May: 12pm – 12.30pm – Women and Girls
Thursday 7 May: 5pm – 17.30pm – Youth Cricket
Tuesday 12 May: 12pm – 12.30pm – Scoring and Umpiring
Thursday 14 May: 5pm – 17.30pm – Coach Education
Tuesday 19 May: 12pm – 12.30pm – Marketing and Commercial
Further information will be provided in advance of each session.
Safeguarding Support
As part of our support for Club Welfare Officers, we will be running regular Zoom sessions to keep CWO’s up to date.
Please pass the information to your CWO’s and ask them to save the Zoom-meeting hyperlink, meeting id and password below into their calendars.
Zoom Topic: Club Welfare Officers on line meeting
Time: 16.00 to 16.30 each Tuesday
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/8501928999?pwd=YWhzd1FUVWxtV1cySkhKS0RhTjN1QT09
Meeting ID: 850 192 8999
Password: 0SLTR2
Safeguarding and Protecting Children
A UK Coaching Online Safeguarding and Protecting Children course will be on the following days and are available to book online by clicking on the relevant link. This is the full certificate and will last for three years.
Monday 04 May 2020: 4pm – 6:30pm – http://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/wnqfhx
Tuesday 12 May 2020: 10am – 12:30pm – http://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/nnqfh4
Wednesday 20 May 2020: 6pm – 8:30pm – http://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/gnqfhf
DBS Verification
We are working with the ECB to verify both renewals and new applications for Enhanced DBS certification.
The ECB has temporarily suspended access for CWOs and club personnel to initiate DBS Disclosures or verify them. They have brought in temporary measures enabling County Staff only to carry out ID verifying via ZOOM /WhatsApp/.
If you do have anyone who needs to initiate a DBS please email Phil Knappett ([email protected]) with the following information and this will initiate the process.
Please write in for ‘subject’ of your email DBS application:
• Their full name (as it appears on their passport/driving licence)
• Their salutation (Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss)
• Their date of birth
• Their email address
• Their club
• Their role (e.g. Coach, CWO, Activator, Umpire etc)
The applicant will receive an email from [email protected]. They will be asked to complete an online application form, including details that will be used to verify their application. When they have completed and returned the form, they should email me and I will send details on how we can complete the process. The email will contain information about which documents they will need to have ready for the verification.
As soon as the situation changes and CWOs can log back into their accounts, I will let you know.
Anyone requested to submit an overseas certificate of good conduct will be asked to email their certificate to the Safeguarding Team instead of posting.
Bank Details Security Reminder
In these turbulent times, we are aware of a number of clubs and leagues sharing information on their finances including bank account details. On advice from ECB’s IT Security Officer below is a timely reminder. Always remember, email is not secure.
When in receipt of personal or confidential information never assume it is authentic and always check its source. In the case of bank details always confirm before making payment but not using the contact details provided. If sending out a club or league’s bank details ideally use a secure route such as a secure email service or encrypted within a password-protected attachment. Personal or confidential information must always be sent securely.
Update Club Contact
Could Club Committee Representative from each respective club kindly complete the survey monkey questionnaire. The updated information will ensure we are able to streamline relative information to the right contact.
To date we have received around 50% responses, please kindly complete the simple form.
Club Development Plan
With the updates announced by Sport England and the ECB, we advise that clubs and leagues to work up contingency plans covering various eventualities. We also suggest that they should develop, or where appropriate update, their development plans – including a way forward – and perhaps include a financial assessment of the club’s current and estimated future position, with a comparison to the past three seasons. Projected cash flow will be particularly crucial.
Please do consider how your club can stay relevant and in people’s minds in the local community through online games/videos, members webinars…
Affiliation
Through consultation with a number of stakeholders, ECiC has taken the decision to amend the affiliation fee for ALL clubs to a £20 deposit which will be reviewed again at the end of September. As in previous years a percentage of this amount will be retained by the local Cricket Participation Group to support junior cricket development. Please inform clubs in your league and it will be communicated and processed up the chain.
Affiliation fees ensure the provision of support for clubs from ECiC and the ECB. If your league or club has not affiliated in the past and you wish to do so, then please make contact with your regional/district contact in the first instance.
Invoices
During Tuesday evenings APG meeting, a number of leagues will not be invoicing clubs until they have a clearer picture of the season. We ask all our leagues to consider if this is a workable option for them, too. If you have other suppliers who have invoiced you for supplies, kit etc it would be sensible to contact them to discuss the situation.
Councils & Landlords
We recommend that each club in your league makes contact with their landlords and discusses the possibility of a rent holiday and/or reduction. We are keen for updates to be shared with your respective Essex Cricket contact.
Grounds Maintenance
The Institute of Groundsmen (IOG) on 02 April provided the latest guidelines and specifications for cricket grounds maintenance, respecting the Governments current guidelines – view here
An update on guidance for groundsmen and women can found here: https://essexcricket.org.uk/2020/03/26/guidance-for-groundsmen-thursday-26-march/
Indoor/Outdoor Nets
In line with the ECB statement on 18th March, the county has suspended all indoor cricket and all outdoor cricket activities are postponed until advised. If you have not already done so,please take the appropriate action.
Overseas Players
Do contact them and their agents as the situation obviously will alter their plans.
Online Cricket Games/Activities
We have been updating our platforms to show activities that individuals and/or families can take part in whilst at home; these can be located via:
• Website: www.essexcricket.org.uk
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EssexCCB/
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/EssexCCB
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essexcricketcommunity/
Online Courses
Online Safeguarding and Protecting Children: will be on the following days and are available to book on line.
• Monday 4 May 2020 4:00pm-6:30pm – book here
• Tuesday 12 May 2020 10:00am-12:30pm – book here
• Wednesday 20 May 2020 6:00pm-8:30pm – book here
Online Umpiring Course: A great opportunity to hone in and on your journey of becoming an umpire: https://www.ecb.co.uk/be-involved/officials/find-a-course/Umpiring-courses
All Stars Cricket/Dynamos
The ECB have suspended All Stars Cricket and Dynamo Cricket until further notice. However as recently communicated by the ECB, ASC Packs and games at home will be posted out shortly to all that have registered. – more information
Next week we are excited to be able to share an updated All Stars Cricket 2020 Activity Booklet with all past and present All Stars parents for them to download. Jam packed with eight different activity areas, introductions to cricket skills, quizzes and recipes from England players, the booklet has been adapted to be suitable for families whilst they are at home.
We’ll share the booklet with you in next week’s update so that you can access.
Youth Participation Group (YPG)
The YPG met via the virtual world, here is an update regarding Youth Cricket: https://essexcricket.org.uk/2020/04/07/youth-participation-update/
Active Essex Webinar
Organised by Active Essex, Essex Cricket amongst a number of NGB’s shared, discussed and debated a number of factors. The group will meet again in a few weeks’ time to ensure a cross-sport discussion with the focus of keeping our communities as active as possible and supporting young people.
The group also discussed funding and the following two links were signposted as a guide outside of the Sport England, ECB and Government funding.
https://www.sportenglandclubmatters.com/
https://sportsuite.activeessex.org/funding
and finally…
Most importantly it is clear that we want everyone to look after their own health and that of their members; this is the main priority of all.
Contact
In line with Government guidance, Essex Cricket in the Community staff as of Wednesday 18 March are working from home. Wherever possible, the team will continue to give support and will continue to provide updates as often as necessary.
