As Cricket East’s Diverse Communities Officer I was initially asked to develop the growth and participation of the grass roots game in Peterborough. However, in the Spring/early Summer of 2018 I was approached to take the lead on co-ordinating Luton’s England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Core City Project. I faced several challenges including that the large national project had already been running elsewhere for approximately 12 months, so things were somewhat behind the pace of national expectations. Around this time I had been fortunate to meet the locally based, and incoming, new Lord’s Taverners Wicketz* (now Senior) Development Officer Amran Malik when I tutored him through his Level 2 coaching qualification.
I want to place on record at this point the huge contribution Amran has made across this whole ECB project. His drive, energy and willingness to go that extra mile has been worthy of the national recognition he received for all his efforts to take the game forward across all communities of the town. Supporting the Lords Taverners Wicketz programme, a free community cricket programme for 8-19 year old’s facing severe deprivation across the UK, by developing the town’s cricket infrastructure was a key focus from the outset. It has over 150 weekly participants to the range of sessions Amran co-ordinates and manages.
Amran and Samina with their National Asian Cricket Awards/Wicketz Boys and Girls Festivals
There was a need to quickly engage, listen and work with a huge range of partners, including at the initial stage the whole local cricket landscape, Luton Borough Councils Parks Manager Rick Donnelly and Cohesion Lead Councillor Aslam Khan, County Sports Partnerships Team Beds and Luton’s Graham Simpson, and Jenni Jordan the ECB Regional Facilities Manager.
Luton’s cricket facilities required huge support as there was extensive evidence of a lack of practice facilities and significant overplay on grass squares across a large parks-based landscape. We created a small working group involving the above individuals to assess what needed doing along with great support from Phil Jeggo, the Institute of Groundsmen Regional Pitch Advisor.
We quickly realised we were striving to deliver perhaps the largest sport linked, community cohesion/integration change project the region has ever seen. We were very aware we needed to link things back to the ECB South Asian Action Plan and Inspiring Generations Strategy.
Luton Town & Indians and Lutonians CC,s come together & cricket integration activity
Key outcomes of the Core City project are:
• Remove Barriers-How?
As indicated, we planned a transparent facility overhaul with a real desire to plumb in community accessibility. We used key focused and integrated community events to informally take the game to the people. This included purchasing a portable practice net to raise the games profile and allow all to come and experience the game in a safe environment. With support from the ECB, I successfully bid for the World Cup Trophy to come to the Town for 5 days. Amran’s brilliant locally structured timetable took us to 23 different locations including Muslim, Hindu and Sikh faith centres which enabled us to reach out and engage with over 3000 people. The Trophy Tour enabled local people, of all ages and faiths, to feel energised and part of something special in the community. Perhaps beyond their reach normally?
World Cup Trophy on show in The Mall, Hindu Temple & Sikh Gurdwara, cricket activity at Mela and EID Events
• Build Strong relationships-How?
Working groups contained representation across all key stakeholders and partners. A strategic partner, The Shared Learning Trust, who with our support are initiating the region’s first Level 3 technical sporting qualification specialising in cricket launching in September 2021. We have also started to develop, workplace and apprenticeship careers support. Furthermore, with the power of Wicketz we developed a cross faith/culture competition offer. Competition has helped break down initial barriers and seen a mixed faith side unite and go on to represent the Town in the ECB City Cup.
ECB City Cup trials and Luton team on match day
• The power of cricket to make a wider positive difference to communities across multiple areas including physical and educational attainment, social cohesion and lower crime and antisocial behaviour-How?
Initiatives here included Combat Cricket, which is bringing together mixed martial arts and cricket. This started supporting Afghan youngsters along with involvement in community work with support from Bedfordshire Police, its Police & Crime Commissioner and the High Sheriff.
Combat Cricket group picture & Afghan youngsters on the pitch during their Lords visit
as part of a Regional BBC Programme on their journey
Key to supporting the growth of the project was the work of a Focus Group and individual Working Groups. Here is some further updated evidence of what was delivered or is in the pipeline:
>Radically improve the playing Facilities for all to access-7 non turf pitches and 2 new net facilities have recently been installed in the town. Secondary schools and colleges will also form part of a Phase 2 facilities development programme also allowing community access. Jenni has given the town huge strategic support enabling this to happen, the whole ECB funded facilities programme totalled close to 6 figures.
Lutonians CC new net facility at their Lower Wardown ground
>Develop innovative Formats of the game for all ages and faiths/cultures in the Town. As stated, the Wicketz Programme is delivered for young people aged 8-19, so all outdoor and indeed indoor activity needs facilities with a cross town reach so all communities have the opportunity to play locally. Structured tape ball cricket activity involving the Sri Lankan community remains a work in progress.
Chance To Shine Street – Lord’s Finals Luton Team, Al Jalal Mosque All Stars Pilot Project
>Developed Women & Girls initiatives include the creation of the first town women’s team. Regular sessions plus a local softball league are under development. Cricket East’s Chantal Hardy has shown great passion to drive this piece of work forward. There has been evidence of the game helping to give a real purpose, self-esteem and an identity to the women and girls.
Luton Ladies win their first match v Abbots Langley CC
>A Workforce model that has trained to date(pre Lockdown): 5 female coaches(including Samina the town’s 1st Level 2 South Asian female coach, who has also received national recognition) and 19 male coaches, thanks to Cricket East’s Brad Matthews for huge support here. Following organising and running two ECB Association of Cricket Officials local courses, 17 South Asian umpires were trained along with 11 grounds volunteers, thanks to support from Phil Jeggo from Institute of Groundsmen. It is hoped post lockdown to revisit a pilot Grounds Trust-again a first for the town.
Coach Support Worker, Grounds and Umpires Courses & the Central Mosque hosts Midweek
League First Aid Training with free equipment for each team
As indicated above, a number of key project activities still remain to be delivered across the working groups once Covid lockdown restrictions allow. Key to success will be all communities continuing to work together for the good of ALL in the Town.
*Wicketz is a free Lords Taverners national community cricket programme targeting children and young people living in areas of deprivation and hard to reach groups. Each project deals with issues in the local area, from health and wellbeing to police and safety problems.
Participants come along for the cricket and stay for the teambuilding, leadership and personal development opportunities.
Footnote: Further partner thank you’s for their project support:
Robin Porter, Sandra Hayes and Matthew Hudson- Luton Borough Council
Councillors Tahir Malik and Rachel Hopkins, Catrina Lewis Active Luton
Range of representatives from Lutonians, Luton Town & Indians (including Kalani Krunal) and Caribbean’s Cricket Clubs
Midweek and Hatters Sunday Leagues including Asfan Javed and Saeed Iqbal
National Asian Cricket Council Gulfraz Riaz, Dan Wilson and Henry Hazlewood Lords Taverners, Meryl Dolling High Sheriff, Paul Lonergan Storm Gym, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Vinod Taylor, representatives of Strawberry Star and Furhaad and Zulfqar Ahmed Luton Dewali and Mela
Metro Bank, Foxley and Kingham and London Luton Airport representatives, Royal Air Force Regional Engagement Team.
Dr Simon Rofe Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy University of London, James Burridge BBC. Steve Cobb and Paul Barnes Beds ACO.
ECB’s Nick Pryde, Martin Darlow, Matt Blakeley, Mohammed Arif. Callum Berrill Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Bedfordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Dr Jacqueline Sabire and Supt David Cestaro, Office of Police & Crime Commissioner
A lot of my motivation for striving to remove barriers for change comes from being fortunate enough on two fronts: To travel, including across parts of India, visiting a range of places and witnessing the power, passion and influence the game has in its local communities. Also, I took part in several young cricketer tours including to South Africa where I led on running coaching in Townships including Mbekweni near Paarl where the following powerful logo has remained with me.
Regards
Dave Summers
Dave.summers@cricketeast.co.uk
07807894250
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