Three cricket clubs across Scotland have been named as this year’s Disability Cricket Champion Clubs in a bid to create more opportunities for people with disabilities to get involved in cricket.
Livingston Cricket Club, Fraserburgh Cricket Club and Galloway Cricket Club have been selected this year after demonstrating their focus on growing disability sport and opportunities for all.
Funding provided by Beyond Boundaries will support the clubs by providing guidance, support, resources and equipment. The programme will enable them to welcome and support individuals with additional needs and varying abilities to play cricket, follow the game, officiate and volunteer.
Each Disability Cricket Champion Club receives a free kit bag containing playing equipment and a range of balls and markers to help facilitate coaching drills and games to help the club flourish.
After three successful disability cricket sessions last year, Galloway Cricket Club were keen to increase their offering and inspire others to get involved. They now plan to run more regular sessions this year and include a Disability Cricket Day as part of their annual Cricket Week.
Livingston Cricket Club, which celebrates its 40th birthday this year, intends on bringing cricket to local children with additional support needs, while Fraserburgh has been working with the community to raise awareness and participation in the sport and is keen to help more people enjoy the game they love.
Launched in 2021, the Disability Cricket Champion Club Programme was developed to help cricket clubs open their doors to everyone in their community. The three clubs for 2022 join previously named Champion Clubs, Westquarter & Redding, Strathmore and Dumfries.
Cricket Scotland’s Disability Cricket Development Officer Barry McGeachy said: “Through the Disability Cricket Champion Club Programme we are delighted to continue to offer new opportunities for disabled people to enjoy cricket and get involved in the sport. By giving clubs across Scotland access to adapted and easy to use equipment and tailored guidance and support, we can help ensure more people can enjoy cricket.
“We are grateful to the ECB for extending the Disability Champion Clubs programme to Scotland and to funders Beyond Boundaries whose vital support helps widen participation and create more opportunities for all. I would like to congratulate this year’s Champion Clubs and I can’t wait to see what they each achieve in their communities with this boost.”
