The ICC and ECB have launched their Cricket World Cup Clubs Programme, which offers an opportunity to local clubs and organisations to become a Cricket World Cup Club and ‘be part of something bigger’.
The initiative has been designed to help grassroots clubs further connect with their local community through family activities and help bring the excitement of the 2019 Cricket World Cup (CWC 2019) into their clubhouse.
As the Cricket World Cup returns to England and Wales for the first time in 20 years, the ICC and ECB aim to engage 1 million kids throughout the tournament and local cricket clubs and organisations can become part of the initiative by applying for the CWC Clubs Programme.
As part of the programme, clubs are being asked to run a weekend of family and kids’ activities, helping to better connect with the local community and engage a younger generation.
To enable them to do that, a Cricket World Cup Club Fund has also been launched alongside the Clubs Programme to support at least the first 2,000 affiliated clubs that apply with a grant of £1,000 to help digitise or upgrade their catering facilities.
The weekend of Friday 7th – Sunday 9th of June 2019 will be the focus for celebrations however club family days can run over any weekend during the World Cup (30th May-14th July).
Celebration activities could be anything, from kids’ coaching sessions, parent/child matches, or even a ‘Bring a Friend’ day. The aim of these family days is to get more kids involved in the game and to help clubs showcase themselves to a wider audience.
Clubs that apply will have access to official marketing material to assist with the promotion of their event – which they will be able to use in schools, on social media and in the local area. Cricket World Cup Champions – the lead volunteer at the club – will receive official World Cup merchandise to reward them for their efforts.
Furthermore, a Cricket World Cup Club Fund will be available on a first come first serve basis to help clubs install new broadband, boost their clubhouse’s audio-visual capabilities, or transform their catering facilities to assist with their CWC 2019 family day.