Berkshire Cricket Foundation 2020-24 Strategy Update

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Berkshire Cricket Foundation 2020-24 Strategy Update

Achievements in 2020:• Pillars• Enablers • Update on impact of Covid• Key Project – The Reading Project

2020-24 Strategy:• Pillars• Enablers• Key Project – The Reading Project

2020-24 Strategy – One Year On

This is an update for partners and stakeholders on Berkshire Cricket Foundation’s activities against our strategy for 2020-24.

2A celebration of achievements A reminder of ambitions

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Berkshire Cricket Foundation Achievements in 2020

Our focus areas for 2020-2024

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More People, More Places

Strong Foundations

High Performing

County Teams

Transform Women &

Girls Cricket

It’s Not Just Cricket

Financial Sustainability

Motivated People

Strong Partnerships

Good Governance

Inspiring Offers

Our Pillars:

Supported by:

Strategic Achievements (2020)

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Strong Foundations

• Fully incorporated Berkshire Schools Cricket Association into Foundation

• Built a strong partnership with our ACO• Strengthened our club network through Covid support

• Appointed former England cricketer Beth Morgan as Female Pathway Manager

• District cricket for girls ready for delivery• Two MCC Foundation Hubs for girls

Transform Women &

Girls Cricket

High Performing

County Teams


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• Huge increase in high quality contact time• Performance pathway dovetails with Vipers for the girls

• Significant impact from Covid in this area• Funding is in place to expand the Berkshire MCC Foundation

hubs project



• Significant impact from Covid in this area• With reduced delivery activity, taken steps to strengthen back

office and relationships


Good Governance


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• Integrated two organisations into one structure, with appropriate devolved responsibilities to deliver performance and participation

• Appointed management teams to organise the day to day activities• Board members are engaged in key functional and operational areas

• Will have implemented Silver standards in governance by April 2021.

• Vastly improved financial management and reporting across organisation

• Provided free to access cricket for 250 children through MCC Foundation hubs program

• Diversifying income through working with local charitable organisations: Greenham Common Trust, Brownlow Foundation, Berkshire Community Foundation, Peter Baker Foundation etc.

Motivated People

Strong Partnerships

Inspiring Offers


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• Increased staff on permanent contracts from 9 to 11

• Provided job security and protected salaries throughout Covid

• Ensured all staff are engaged, motivated and ready for 2021 season.

• Built strong partnerships with MCC Foundation, Core Cities and Chance to Shine through Covid

• Working with a variety of local organisations in partnership: Falkland CC, Field Seymour Parks, Get Berkshire Active.

• Took the opportunity offered by Covid to put the player, clubs and schools at the centre of our offerings

• Delivered the right thing, in the right place with the right partners• Added value to partners and funders by being flexible and outcome oriented.

Key Strategic Project - Reading

• A lack of cricket opportunities in Reading Borough, yet a demand for activity – no ‘cricket clubs’ within the borough

• Community activity is key, as it brings together different groups• Cricket facilities are in short supply, so different options need to be explored – the use of multiple

venues to create a ‘hub’• Several of the main programmes we run will grow the game via school, community, and casual

delivery (All Stars, Dynamos, Street, City Cup)• Local delivery is essential – take the game to the participants, rather than expect them to travel• We have learnt a great deal from our work in Slough, partnerships are integral to the success of

any project, and a commitment from us to deliver• Many of the young people in the area do not participate in other sports or physical activity – we

can make a real difference, which is wider than cricket

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Berkshire Cricket Foundation 2020-25 Strategy*

* As shared on the 14th of April 2020

The strategic approach to Cricket in Berkshire

‘Together we can grow and strengthen the Game, support Communities, and inspire the County’

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Our Objectives

• Lead and develop the Cricket Network within Berkshire• Provide enjoyable, inclusive, and accessible programmes• Establish a governance structure to sustain and protect cricket in

Berkshire• Create a player pathway that enables players to reach their potential• Use Cricket to engage with new communities

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Our Challenges

• Politically, no such thing as Berkshire• Long, thin county• Uneven distribution of clubs• Lack of grass pitches in three LA areas• Complex, overlapping adult league structures

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Our Opportunities

• Access to key demographic groups• Two key urban areas with high population density • Applying learnings from Slough to Reading• Building on our already high performing Player Pathway programme• Great neighbours (FCC & The Hundred)• Further developing our strategic & delivery partnerships

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Our focus for 2020-2024

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Strong Foundations

High Performing

County Teams

Transform Women &

Girls Cricket



Motivated People

Strong Partnerships

Good Governance

Inspiring Offers

Our Pillars:

Supported by:

Current state of play:• Xxx Adult teams in organised adult competitions

(across 8 leagues)• 4 formal midweek leagues/competitions• 330 Youth Teams in organised competition• A regular presence in 130 Schools• A small number of volunteers, performing a high

number of roles• 1200 All Stars, 34 Centres

Our Ambitions:• Sustain the number of Adult league teams• All Star and Dynamos Centres across the County• Double the pool of volunteers, supported by the

Volunteer Strategy• Increase and diversify the youth cricket offer• Berkshire Clubs linked to The Hundred and

neighbouring First Class Counties

Strong Foundations

• Support Club Volunteers• Engage with Clubs to provide a welcoming and

positive experience

• Clubs at the core of our 5+ offer• Expand our School programme

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Strong Foundations

We will achieve this by:• Working with our clubs to develop playing opportunities across all age groups

• Managing the Schools Cricket Association and the Youth Cricket League, to facilitate a more integrated approach to youth cricket across the County

• Developing our working relationship with the Berkshire ACO to recruit, support, and retain officials

• Creating a Club Support programme and network, led by Cricket Managers

• Developing and implementing a Facilities Strategy for the Club game

• Providing a support network for club volunteers, and specific support for Groundsmen, Officials, Coaches and Committee members

• Increasing our delivery capacity to enable us to support clubs and schools to grow and attract new audiences

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Current state of play:• A geographically uneven spread of female playing

opportunities • 12 female coaches (attended courses 2018-20)• 17 clubs with Women’s and/or Girls offer (44 Girls

teams, 8 Women’s teams in 2019)• Hardball and softball offers at U11, U13, U15 and

open age• 11 female officials

Our Ambitions:• Co-ordinated playing opportunities and pathway

across the County, both geographically and ability• A thriving club network for Women and Girls• Every club with a female playing offer to have at

least one female coach• Every club with a female playing offer to have at

least one female official• A Country wide Secondary School competition

framework

Transform W&G Cricket

• A coherent player pathway for Women & Girls that supports the Regional Domestic Structure

• Support and grow the game through adult and youth teams

• Increase the number of Women and Girls in volunteer roles

• Grow the Secondary School leadership programme

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Transform W&G Cricket

We will achieve this by:• Redesigning and repositioning our player pathway for women and girls

• Delivering targeted training and development for female volunteers

• Introducing ‘Town Cricket’ to support an even geographical spread of girls playing opportunities, and to support new clubs in the early stage of their girls offer

• Targeting female coaches for specific roles and CPD opportunities

• Working closely with the RHoWC to provide development and progression for our players and coaches

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Current state of play:• 13 MCCA Titles in the last 7 years• 22 players on First Class Academies• 5 Players made First Class debuts• Boys teams at all age groups (U10-U18), and Girls

at U11, U13, U15, U17• 3 Players in Kia Super League squads• City Cup Teams in Reading and Slough, and MCC

Foundation Hubs in Slough (inc Girls) and Reading

Our Ambitions:• Continued success at senior level• A Girls performance programme that dovetails

with Southern Vipers• An upskilled coaching workforce across the

pathway• Increased contact time with skilled players• An accessible, affordable, and targeted player

pathway

High Performing County Teams

• Achieve high level of success at Men’s 1st XI level• Support the transition of players into First Class

Cricket through our Emerging Player Programme

• Maximise the positive impact of our Performance Pathway on Players and Clubs

• A wide reaching talent ID system

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High Performing County Teams

We will achieve this by:• Work with the Regional Head of Women’s Cricket

• Support our Coaches through CPD opportunities

• Communicate and co-ordinate closely with clubs

• Deliver all elements of the Performance Programme to ECB MQS

• Develop a scouting and talent ID system across all activities in the County

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Current state of play:• One Cricket Club in Slough, none in Reading• Lack of accessible grass pitches in key areas• 22 teams in the South East Sunday League• Positive relationship with Slough BC• Indoor T10 comps for adult/youth teams (Slough)• Successful Street projects in Slough (4 inc Girls),

Reading (2) and Maidenhead• MCC Foundation Hubs in Slough (inc Girls) and

Reading

Our Ambitions:• Diversity in playing opportunities and formats in

Reading, Slough and Bracknell• A Community Cricket Club, and venue, in Reading• Community based projects with Councils in all 6

Local Authorities• Locally based coaches delivering projects• Close links between Community projects and

performance pathway


• Project RG2• Identify, and partner with, other Cricket

organisations in urban areas, e.g., LA, SG and C2S

• Increase the youth cricket opportunities in rural areas

• Expand our School programme

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We will achieve this by:• Delivering a sustainable Community Club and facility in Reading, providing formal and informal playing

opportunities

• Supporting a programme to recruit, develop and retain volunteers from urban areas in coaching, officiating and other volunteer roles

• Continuing to deliver the key elements from the Core Cities programme

• Engaging further with relevant Local Authorities and other organisations, to co-deliver, where possible, community based cricket projects

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Current state of play:• A Table Cricket offer that engages with 10

schools• Good partnerships with School Sport in all 6

Local Authority areas, and with the CSP• An effective delivery partnership with Slough BC

Our Ambitions:• The ability to deliver year round, cross sport

programmes

• A ‘go to’ partner for Community projects and funders

• A disability cricket offer, linked to clubs, across the County

It’s not just Cricket

• Increase our non cricket delivery, to aid sustainability and relevance

• Widen our partners outside of sport and recreation

• Deliver a sustainable Disability Cricket Offer• Use Cricket to contribute to improving community

issues

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It’s not just Cricket

We will achieve this by:• Upskilling our staff in other sports and qualifications, and increase capacity and knowledge in non cricket

areas

• Working with Lords Taverners to expand Table Cricket, and introduce Super 1’s

• Linking with more disability activity providers and healthcare groups

• Increasing our engagement with Local Authorities sport, recreation, and social care teams

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Our focus for 2020-2024

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Strong Foundations

High Performing

County Teams

Transform Women &

Girls Cricket



Motivated People

Strong Partnerships

Good Governance

Inspiring Offers

Our Pillars

Supported by

Current state of play:• BCF is a registered charity, BCCC is a company

limited by guarantee• BCF has a clear organisational structure, with an

appointed skills-based Board• Highly engaged & capable BCF executive group• BCCC Board does not meet ECB MQS• Programmes not well integrated

Our Ambitions:• A single body for Cricket within Berkshire• Effective, empowered, and efficient management

teams• Compliance with Silver Tier ECB Governance• Open communication channels which support

decision making

Good Governance

• Good decision making• Good communication

• The right people involved with the right skills to enable delivery of performance and participation objectives

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Good Governance

We will achieve this by:• Integrating the two organisations into one structure, with appropriate devolved responsibilities

• Appointing management teams to organise the day to day activities

• Engaging Board members in key functional and operational areas

• Regular communications and consultation with stakeholders and partners

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Current state of play:• ECB direct funding equates to around 50% of BCF

income, and around 30% of BCCC income• Performance programme (youth) heavily reliant

on parental contributions• An effective financial accounting and management

system (BCF)

Our Ambitions:• Long term security of funding• Make cricket more affordable to players, parents,

and clubs• A fully functioning management financial system

that allows fully transparent purchases, payments, and monitoring across performance and participation activities


• Appropriate diversity in sources of income • Informed financial decision making

• Cricket opportunities which are financially inclusive

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We will achieve this by:• Implementing high quality financial management systems and processes across BCF and BCL

• Longer term agreements with funding partners

• Increase our ‘non ringfenced’ income through commercial activities

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Current state of play:• 9 permanent staff with attractive benefits package• Coaches on ‘contract for services’• High levels of staff engagement• Staff development through CPD and projects• Volunteers from the cricket network who are

involved in areas where they have an interest

Our Ambitions:• A larger staff, on permanent contracts, with job

security

• Clear career progression, both internally and with partners e.g., personalised CPD

• A pool of locally based staff who are fully engaged in local projects that ‘mean something to them’

• A workforce that is reflective of the cricket network

• A volunteer base who feel part of the organisation

Motivated People

• Good people in good jobs• Good development opportunities

• High levels of engagement from employees, volunteers and board members

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Motivated People

We will achieve this by:• Exploring how roles can be developed to increase hours e.g., annualised hours, flexible working

• Further developing the appraisal process to capture the aspirations of staff

• Widening recruitment initiatives to allow us to reach new individuals

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Current state of play:• BCF currently partners with 6 main funders -ECB,

Chance To Shine, Lords Taverners, MCC Foundation, Slough BC, West Berks School Sports Network, Get Berkshire Active (and indirectly with Sport England)

• BCF has a track record of delivering projects to a high standard for partners, and has a flexibility to react to short timescales

Our Ambitions:• A wider range of partners from within cricket,

sport, and the community

• Regular commissioning of work by external funders, both sport related and community based e.g., ABCD

• Partners are integral to the success of programmes

Strong Partnerships

• A ‘go to’ partner for external agencies• A track record of delivery

• Adaptability to deliver in different environments, for varied outcomes

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Strong Partnerships

We will achieve this by:• Understanding the impact that our programmes have and seeking out new partners with aligned outcomes

• Clearly communicating our successes, progress and concerns to our partners

• Investing in a high quality M & E system that streamlines data input and provides flexible reporting

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Current state of play:• Centrally contracted programmes are delivered in

line with guidelines

• BCF has been able to react to changing situations

• Introduced 7 artificial wickets in Slough parks

Our Ambitions:• Programmes and activities that are focused on

outcomes as well as outputs

• A range of programmes that can be accessed by different groups at different times

• Offers that reflect the needs of the business and of the participants

Inspiring Offers

• Activities that align to our objectives and add value to the organization and its stakeholders

• The right offer, in the right place, at the right time

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Inspiring Offers

We will achieve this by:• Understanding where gaps are, why they exist and what the local requirement is

• Ensuring programmes are able to develop over time, to adapt to changing needs

• Delivering Project RG2 (Cintra Park, Reading)

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Project RG2 – Cintra Park

Bringing cricket back to Readingü Strong Foundations

ü Transform W&G Cricket

ü More People, More Places

ü It’s not just Cricket

ü Strong Partnerships

ü Inspiring Offers

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Impact of Covid-19*

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In the short term, we are ok:• Financial clarity enabled us to scenario plan• Good governance enabled early decision making• This gave time for good communication to engage

employees/stakeholders• Staff drew up adaptable “return to cricket” plans• We can mobilise in 48 hours.

In the medium term:• Information required about funding streams from

all funding partners• Information required about potential return to

cricket schedule, by programme• Key decisions to be made about delivery and

employment (maybe redundancies for 20/21)• Covid-19 changes timelines, not ambitions.

• Potentially no cricket played in 2020

• Performance programmes on hold

• Governance work continues, meetings online

• Significant pressures on medium sized clubs

• Significant impact on engagement in clubs and leagues in 2021

* This was a view stated in April 2020 before we knew exactly how Covid would impact the game.

Thank you for your time!

Any questions?39

Berkshire Cricket Foundation 2020-24 Strategy Update

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