Bexhill & Sidley Walking Cricket Clubs

The Pitch

Problem statement

Walking Cricket has enabled people over 50 years of age to become more socially active, and to partake in a gentle exercise which is a benefit in itself. It has given people a focus to “get out of their homes” and come along twice a week to get involved in a sport they loved from years gone by, and probably did not think they would ever play again. They have become more confident in meeting and talking to others on differing subjects. We have placed posters at Bexhill and Conquest Hospitals, local Libraries, and shops, as well as Doctors Surgeries and have had articles in newspapers and magazines encouraging people in this age group to come along and participate.

Solution

To continue this project, which has been a great success. The funding will be used to help fund the twice weekly hire of the Leisure Centre (Main Hall). We only charge the participants £2.00 per session so this cost does not prohibit them attending. This brings an income of around £3000.00 per annum but the annual cost of the Main Hall is £5000.00 per annum. So the £2000.00 funding will increase our income to the £5000.00 so we can continue for another year. The two clubs have now been running for 5 and 3 years and we would not want this project to fail due to lack of funding.

Why are we best placed to deliver?

We started the first these Walking Cricket Clubs sessions in March 2017 (Bexhill) and this was a great success so a second Walking Cricket Club session was started in March 2019 (sidley). We have a number of volunteers who have attending course run by Sussex Cricket Foundation and Active Rother to enable the successful provision of these sessions to this age group. These clubs have been so successful that Kent Cricket Foundation have sent representatives to watch our sessions with the purpose of setting up similar clubs in Kent. There are a number of other clubs now established in Sussex who have followed our lead in setting up these clubs.

Focus Areas

Delivery plan

Budget breakdown

Beneficiaries

45 people

Expected impact

The Walking Cricketers conclude their sessions by meeting over tea/coffee/biscuits at the Bexhill Leisure Centre, staying for 30 minutes or so to discuss all sorts of topics and issues, leaving no stone unturned. The meetings after the sessions are an integral part of the success of Walking Cricket and are a vital addition to the wellness of the participants. As a by-product of this activity, it has reunited old friends who played the game during their younger days and had lost touch and have now also forged new friendships. The sessions have alleviated loneliness and isolation for a number of the participants. In December 2018 and 2019, around twenty-five participants gathered for a Christmas Lunches which were greatly enjoyed by all and was still remarked on months after these events. This will be an annual event for Bexhill and Sidley Walking Cricket Clubs.

Track record

When we started in 2017 with the Bexhill Club we were getting on average 13 per session, this slowly increased, we decide to start a second session in 2019, the Sidley Club. This increased the average across both clubs to 26 on average per week. We did have a turn down in attendance as we missed 62 months due to Covid. On returning the numbers have slowly increased to an average of 30 participants across the two sessions. With a total membership of around 45 participants the age profile does mean that Hospital/Doctors appointments, Grandparenting duties do eat into the possibility of attending every week. However the average numbers are being maintained and are slowly on the increase again, showing there is a need for this project to be ongoing.