Revised article updated: Friday 12 June, 5:00pm
Article first released: Thursday 26 March, 10:00am
Key Contacts
• 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
Everyone at Essex Cricket would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole Essex Cricket family for the huge amount of community spirit, engagement, and activation that has taken place. As a united front coming together across every part of the county, it has been exciting to see what is possible in the most challenging times to enhance community lives.
This passion and hard work continues to show that the game is more than just about the competing, but the friendships, memories and opportunities it creates for all – so thank you!
As we now start to see a return to recreational cricket on the horizon, a strong and concerted effort is needed by us all to support our friends, families and the community by respecting the Government guidelines. I can assure you we are continuing to work with the ECB around clarity of information and what opportunities this may create for clubs, teams, players, officials and volunteers. We will continue to communicate this information to our wider cricket family at the earliest opportunity.
Finally, I would like to remind you to please get in touch with the Essex Cricket in the Community team at any point and we will be more than happy to support ways to activate your club, guidance on the current guidelines, funding options to help you through this summer or winter or ways to connect and support your members and local community.
Thank you all again, please continue to stay safe and we looking forward to the enjoyment of playing with a bat and ball again, either now in small groups or with your team in the near future.
Latest ECB Update
On Friday 05 June, the ECB released further practical guidance to players and clubs on the steps they should take whilst undertaking recreational cricket activity and informal cricket activity in an outdoor environment given the current restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The key update in the guidance is the allowance of small group sizes (now up to six individuals), however a number of other subtle but important changes are listed throughout the document.
• Guidance Summary – Here
• Return to Activity in a Club Setting Guidance – Here
• Outdoor Facilities Guidance – Here
On 10 June, the ECB released the ‘Roadmap for return to recreational cricket’
• View Here
Together in this Test:
The ECB has launched ‘Together Through This Test’, a nationwide campaign shining a light on the work undertaken by the game in response to COVID-19 and highlighting resources available to the public – Here.
Raise the Bat for Cricket’s Key Workers:
Essex Cricket have joined the ECB’s #raisethebat campaign, which highlights key workers from the world of cricket who have helped to support their local community during COVID-19 – Here
Google’s Digital Garage Workshops:
Cricket clubs across England and Wales can benefit from digital skills webinars as part of a new partnership between the ECB and Google Digital Garage – Here
Current Government Advice
All the latest details can be found via: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Funding & Financial Support
Information on the ECB’s Leagues Loan is now available: Here
If clubs/leagues are not eligible for either Local Authority or Sport England funding and still require financial assistance or simply to update us on their current circumstances to touch base with Graham Pryke or Arfan Akram.
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 – Here
2. The ECB Loan scheme – Here
3. The ECB Grant – Here
4. Community Initiative Fund – Here
Sport England:
Interested in finding out more about crowdfunding for sport? Are you part of a not-for-profit organisation committed to keeping the community physically active? Do you need some money to help support your organisation? Crowdfunding could help…
• Register for the event to receive more information – Here
ECiC Guidance
Latest Covid-19 Webinars since last the last update:
• Tuesday 09 June – ECB Guidance – Small Groups
After ECB’s announcement on Step 3 of the Roadmap for the Return of Recreational Cricket, ECiC in partnership of the Region and Matt Blakely at the ECB were joined by 101 people logged in via Zoom to talk through the latest guidance –
• Thursday 11 June – Creating a Club Development Plan
Former Head of Sport at the London Mayors Office, Simon Cooper and Essex Cricket’s Graham Pryke shared knowledge and insight on how to put a Club Development Plan together, from the structure of the document, research and future plans to embedding a Business Plan.
Umpiring Inter League Challenge Launches:
Essex Cricket in the Community have been working closely with the ECB and Essex Association of Cricket Official (ACO) to create a brand new recruitment drive for budding umpires across the region – Here
Call to the Cricket Community:
Have you, or any one in your cricket community represented Essex at age-group level? If so, you may have noticed that Cliff Greenhill has been uploading historic scorecards on to the www.essex.play-cricket.com
Cliff is seeking any old scoresheets or scorebooks you may have so he can insert them to the Play-Cricket database.
Get in contact via email – [email protected]
Essex Women Compete Again:
The Essex Women’s First Team will be competing once again in a Virtual London Race this weekend.
Essex, Middlesex, Kent and Surrey Women’s players will be dusting off the running shoes once again but this time are looking to post their best 2km time. The fastest team time wins. The next weekend will see play offs between the winners and losers of each game.
The 12-strong set of runners for Essex will also be joined by Nasser Hussain as the special guest runner this week! Other guests runners includes Middlesex’s Pink the Panther!
Follow @EssexWomen on Twitter for up to date information around the competition or Click Here for further information
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 have been working from home. Wherever possible, the team will continue to give support and will continue to provide updates as often as necessary.
