2020 ANNUAL REPORT

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB 2020 ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 54 Mr HW Russell asked what amount of ECB funding was currently provided for the recreational game. Ms Pursehouse stated that, whilst the answer to the question was not straightforward, the core pot of current funding for Nottinghamshire amounted to £252,000. An additional fund of £20 million, which she had referred to in her report, would not be automatically distributed, but would be available for counties to bid for against specific projects. Mr J Lee asked whether the Royal London Cup would be marginalised byThe Hundred and whether longer forms were at risk of demise. Ms Pursehouse stated her belief that existing audiences are vital to cricket, in addition to those new supporters who were often introduced to cricket via shorter formats such asThe Hundred. Ms Pursehouse further stated that the ECB had a marketing plan for the Royal London Cup competition and that a budget had been committed for its promotion. MandyWright, the Club’s Community & Development Manager, addressed the meeting and introduced photographs of the experienced team of 13 officers who were dedicated to the countywide support of the recreational game. MsWright expressed pride at the club’s community offering being bestowed Business of Cricket and Chance to Shine awards with further nominations for the Nottinghamshire ActiveTogether Awards still to be adjudicated, as well as the recognition associated with Nottinghamshire representatives being asked to sit on national consultation groups. MsWright revealed that the past year had brought a reach of 12,000 people, more than 3,000 hours of direct delivery, the creation of 48 new partnerships and the administer- ing of training to over 400 coaches, officials and volunteers. The work of volunteers had been recognised at the annual OSCA’s evening, which featured a 50% growth in nominations, increased representation in the north of the county and more women and young people nominated than ever before. Two full-time Club Development Officers had been added to the team and had helped the senior adult leagues work more collaboratively, whilst also supporting junior leagues in the adoption of the ECB’s new recommended formats of cricket. A working group had been established for the north of the county to address challenges faced by clubs outside of greater Nottingham. The support offered to Club Welfare Officers had resulted in Nottinghamshire becoming the first county nationally to be 100% safe- guarding compliant. Mental health awareness training had also been provided to ClubWelfare Officers. A partnership with the Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund had provided heavily subsidised defibrillators to seven local cricket clubs with three more pending. MsWright identified women and girls as a local and national priority. Participation among women and girls had been supported by the creation of softball festivals, hard- ball coaching, and competitions among schools.The development of an elite pathway for women and girls had seen Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club’s professional cricket department take responsibility for the county’s senior women’s team. Work across the region had seen the establishment of a new East MidlandsWomen’s League, set up to lessen travel time, to provide more playing formats and to allow new teams to access regional competitive opportunities in both hard and softball formats. 140 women had been introduced to the game through softball festivals and eight new teams had been involved in winter and summer leagues.There had been an increase in the number of girls at primary and secondary schools playing competitive cricket within their education setting. All Stars cricket surpassed its target of introducing 1,300 children aged 5-8 to the game: an increase of over 300 from the previous year. 44 Young Activators aged 14-18 were trained to support All Stars within local clubs, alongside 144 adult volunteers who were also trained. The ECB had announced the launch of its new national programme for eight to 11-year- olds, Dynamos, which would be a club-based programme designed as both a progression from All Stars and as a first point of entry for those inspired by The Hundred.