2021 ANNUAL REPORT

15 COMMUNITY REPORT The aim was to ensure that a Covid-induced fallow year did not arrest the momentum gained during a remarkable 2019. In practice, our fears proved almost entirely unfounded. Across the county, participation levels were 10% higher than those of two summers ago. The make-up of those involved in cricket is becoming increasingly varied, with a larger number of women discovering a passion for the game, and our work in diverse inner-city communities continuing to bear fruit. Our official charity, theTrent Bridge CommunityTrust, has been able to return to the face-to-face methods which produce such positive results with those in need of a sporting chance, whilst its mental health initiatives have expanded notably. Meanwhile, our heritage team have continued to provide historical context to the achievements and events of the present day. All of this work now sits under the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club umbrella, following the merger of the club and Nottinghamshire Cricket Board last year. The recreational game is now formally at the heart of our organi- sation, with a Recreational Cricket Advisory Group feeding into the Cricket Committee and ultimately reporting into the General Commit- tee of the club. The Advisory Group oversees four sub-groups with responsibilities for clubs and leagues, young people and those with disabilities, women & girls and the cricketing workforce.These sub-groups provide accountability and give those at the grassroots a voice at the top table. With a robust system now firmly in place, we hope to continue to see the kind of tangible growth that we witnessed in 2021. The All Stars programme, which instils basic skills in five to eight- year-olds whilst retaining a firm focus on fun, engaged over 1,100 children this summer – with girls making up 28% of the tally, and a quarter of participants hailing from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.The demographic make-up of the new Dynamos of- fering was similar, with 904 eight to 11-year-olds developing their skills through a new, countdown cricket- based programme. As the first All Stars and Dynamos sessions of the summer concluded, The Hundred took centre stage at venues and on television screens across the country.This mainstream exposure provided a clear boost in interest and participation numbers, and was harnessed by a number of If the theme of 2020 across our community initiatives was survival, then the mission for 2021 was one of recovery. T I M E AT H E R I NG TON COMMUNI TY REPORT