ECB Disability Champion Clubs

Creating a fun and welcoming playing environment for disabled people.
Apply to become an Advocate / Champion Club

Applications to become a Disability Champion Club in 2022 are now open.

The Disability Cricket Champion Club Programme will support cricket clubs through guidance, resource and equipment, enabling them to welcome individuals with additional needs and varying abilities to support them to play, follow, officiate and volunteer.  Creating a truly equitable club game and providing fantastic new opportunities for cricketers and for the Champion Clubs.

Here in Gloucestershire, we would like every cricket club to actively promote inclusive cricket opportunities for disabled people across the County. We are aware that delivering additional cricket sessions for some clubs may not be possible straightaway, so we have divided our Champion Club offer into two levels. Our hope is that all clubs will become ‘advocates’ for disability cricket, which will allow more clubs to engage with the programme by promoting cricketing opportunities for disabled people. It is a fantastic way of raising awareness about how to get involved and ensure that everyone has the chance to enjoy the game we all love.

Advocate Club

Raise awareness of cricket opportunities across Gloucestershire for disabled people:

  • Display inclusive opportunities posters in your clubhouse
  • Share inclusive opportunities posters with your membership
  • Promote digital content across your club social media channels

Champion Club

Create playing opportunities for disabled people at your club. Each Champion Club will receive:

  • Up to £500 grant funding
  • Brand new kit bag of playing equipment
  • Guidance and support from the GCF & ECB

Grant Funding

Clubs will be able to apply for up to £500 in their first year, to:

  • deploy experienced coaches*
  • purchase more adapted equipment
  • help to promote inclusive cricket sessions

*A club coach must assist a paid coach to build future sustainability of the programme.

Play Cricket (SVG)

Equipment

Adapted and easy to use equipment can play a crucial role in enabling coaches to ensure that everyone is involved and able to enjoy the game.

Every centre that registers and goes on to be selected to be a Disability Cricket Champion Club will receive a free pack, including:

  • 1 x ECB kit bag
  • 4 x bats
  • 4 x sets of stumps
  • 10 x plastic balls
  • 15 x tennis balls
  • 2 x large tennis balls
  • 3 x large tennis ball with ball-bearings (audible)
  • 4 x batting tees
  • 24 x cones
  • 12 x PVC Line markers
  • 2 x 10m ropes

Apply now

Clubs can now apply to become a Gloucestershire Advocate Club or ECB Champion Club by completing this short form.

Once complete, Jeanette will be in touch with more information.

Jeanette Tate / Disability Development Officer

Jeanette Tate / Disability Development Officer

Funded by the Lord’s Taverners, Jeanette’s role is to grow and sustain the offer for young people with a disability to engage in cricket by developing the community based Super 1s Programme. She is working to set up Super 1s and Table Cricket Hubs across the county which aim to provide accessible opportunities to play whilst also using cricket as a tool to develop key life skills. Jeanette also organises competitions, festivals, and social events to further participant development.

You’ll find Jeanette working in schools across the County to provide a sustainable pathway from school to community hubs and providing support to cricket clubs to ensure a welcoming environment for those with disabilities.  Jeanette leads the ECB Disability Champion Club Programme which is designed to make clubs more inclusive and provide a club-based playing offer for people with disabilities.

Furthermore, Jeanette chairs the Disability Development Group and supports and development the County Disability Cricket Programme.

Jeanette is passionate about her work as every day someone achieves something which she finds rewarding as young people develop friendships, communication and independence overcoming the challenges they have through cricket.