Maidenhead & Bray Cricket Club is the first cricket club
in Berkshire to gain the valuable ‘Clubmark’ award
from the ECB. Andy Hobbs (County Cricket Development Officer)
made the presentation to Michael Parkinson (Club President) and
other members of the Club’s management committee at the
Club’s ground.
The Clubmark is a Sport England initiative, which provides a
‘kitemark’ of quality for sports clubs. It is open to
any club that fulfils the necessary criteria. The purpose is to
identify those clubs that have shown that they are properly and
efficiently managed, which provide a safe environment for young
players to learn and enjoy their sport, and which have a high
standard of ethics towards all senior and junior members.
Elton Barendse, the Club’s Captain of Cricket, is
enthusiastic about the award: “Several of the policies and
procedures for which we provided evidence deal with matters which
most clubs subscribe to, even though they may not be formally
written down. Most clubs have a written constitution, but not
much else apart from the annual accounts and a bar price list !
But there are several elements which we have implemented as part
of the Clubmark programme which are matters we should have dealt
with more actively in the past, but which we never quite got
round to. All of our 16 coaches are properly trained to Level 1
or Level 2, and they are now also trained in child protection and
in sports first aid. Members of our senior sides are trained in
first aid as well, and we have proper procedures for handling any
accidents etc.”
Andy Hobbs is spearheading a drive to get the County’s
cricket clubs to go for Clubmark with support coming through the
four Cricket District Development Groups for all clubs in their
areas. There are Clubmark packs available that provide clear,
straightforward guidance; these have already been circulated to
all cricket clubs. Andy says: “Any club which needs another
pack or requires further advice can apply to myself or to their
District Development Group Secretary, or of course now to
Maidenhead & Bray Cricket Club, where Bob Crawley (also
Chairman of the East Berks. DDG) is keen to provide advice based
on the Club’s own successful experience.” Michael
Parkinson commented as he accepted the Clubmark award: “I
love watching cricket at Bray, one of the most attractive grounds
I know, and it is good to know that we are not just a pretty
place – we are also thoroughly well managed for the benefit
of all our members, and well able to provide safe and enjoyable
facilities and coaching for our 300+ colts.”
The Maidenhead & Bray Cricket Club Annual General meeting 2011 is to be held at the clubhouse, High Street, Bray on Sunday October 16th starting at midday promptly.
Nominations for Club Officers of the Management Committee and Directors should be sent in writing to the Secretary thesecretary at mandbcc dot co dot uk no later than midday Tuesday October …