Cricket through the Faith

Cricket through the Faith is a programme developed to encourage more young Asian people to play cricket, develop their sporting and social skills and potentially join a local club. The social cohesion project has proved to be a valuable part of Yorkshire Cricket’s work and involves local communities, a variety of faiths and local mosques working together.

Benefits

• Provides quality coaching to young people from Asian backgrounds and inner city areas who may not otherwise have the opportunity
• Creates pathways for those wishing to develop their skills further
• Provides a positive and new experience for young people including the opportunity to watch a professional match at Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground

Case Study: Middlesbrough

• Partnership between local Mosque, the local community centre and Local Authority, together with Tees Valley Sport
• Held in local Mosque before and after prayers
• 10 week coaching programme held at Breckon Hill Community Centre reaching 10 children
• So popular, ‘Cricket in the Community’ has been born and runs regularly
• Current programme involves 66 children: 7 -11 year olds - 33 children, 12 – 16 year olds - 33 children
• Programme now in it’s second year

• 201 School Visits to local area reaching 606 children including 59 BAME and 25 disabled pupils

Case Study: Sheffield

Coaching was delivered for a 6 day period, 3 hours per day, week commencing 3^rd August 2009 at the Madina Community Mosque in Sheffield. Sessions involved skills development followed by Kwik cricket games in the afternoon.

Due to good weather, the sessions were held at a nearby bowling lane at Mount Pleasant Park, two minutes from the mosque, which also provided 4 Flicx pitch facilities. Following the project, the young people were rewarded with a trip to Headingley Carnegie Cricket Ground to watch LVCC Yorkshire v Lancashire on Wednesday 19^th August. 

Results

• 45 children took part in the sessions
• 6 children joined Sheffield Works Development CC following the project
• 7 volunteers/parents were interested in taking their UK CC Level 1 Coaching Qualification

Future Developments

• Provide more opportunity for girls to get involved in the programme
• Increase number of BAME volunteers and coaches to encourage increase in BAME participation
• Cricket for Basics course to be delivered to parents and volunteer coaches pre/post 2010 project

“This project has been a fantastic success and has encouraged a number of young people to continue their cricketing interests at local clubs. The group have gained a lot from the programme, particularly experiences they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

Johnny Younis, Community Cricket Coach, YCB

“We are very thankful for the work the Yorkshire Cricket Board has delivered. It has certainly helped increase numbers and has ‘kick-started’ other cricket projects and activities at the mosque due to a great interest from both children and parents. We very much look forward to next year.”

Mashud Nazir, Community Mosque Worker, Madinah Community Mosque, Sheffield.