Throughout the year, the SCB hosts a number of events to promote, reward and celebrate the achievements of those involved at all levels in clubs, schools and organisations across the county. From the grass-roots volunteer working to prepare a pitch for an u10s club game to the elite cricketer achieving success in his county age group side, there is an occasion to suit the needs of all. Many of these events are tied in with larger national events held by the SCB (NatWest OSCAs and NatWest CricketForce) where those individuals and clubs in Shropshire who have gone that extra mile can gain national recognition and have their efforts showcased.

SCB events from 2011 include

• SCB OSCAs 2011 • NatWest CricketForce 2011 • SCB Annual Dinner 2011 - (TOP)

As well as the events organised by the SCB, many clubs host their own events throughout the year to promote their work or to potentially raise funds for the club.

Examples of this are mentioned in the Club Development section of this website. If you are wishing to promote your club's event then please do not hesitate to contact us as we can publicise this free of charge. Please see contact details above. - (TOP)

The opportunities as a volunteer are almost limitless… from working behind the bar, working on the club’s website, taking photographs for newsletters or organising social events. Everyone has a vital role to play in promoting the club and engaging in activities which help it to run successfully. You can make a difference - be involved.

Volunteering is very rewarding and has great benefits for both the club and individual. If you are thinking about seeking a new job, entering university, starting a new school, working in sport or generally improving yourself, cricket clubs can provide the perfect opportunity to help you reach your goals and objectives.

Among 200 of the UK leading businesses:

• 73 per cent of employers would employ a candidate with volunteer experience over one without • 94 per cent of employers believe that volunteering can add too skills • 58 per cent say that voluntary work experience can actually be more valuable than experience gained in paid employment. (Source – Time bank / Reed executive)

The benefit to you as an individual by 'doing your club a favour' are:

• A brilliant CV booster • Skill acquisition – communication skills, leadership skills through hands on experience • Personal & professional development and/or training • Learn new skills or using existing skills • Satisfaction from doing something to make a difference within your local community • An increased sense of worth and accomplishment from making a difference • Respect for different people and conditions • Support your studies or interest in gaining experience outside of the learning environment • Development of your interests to become a profession • The ability to explore different sorts of career or job opportunities in a voluntary capacity • Physical and social benefits – a chance to get out, have fun and meet some new people – enjoying the traditional social life that cricket clubs generate • Give you a sense of intangible satisfaction • Development of your interests to become a profession • Physical and social benefits – a chance to get out, have fun and meet some new people – enjoying the traditional social life that cricket clubs generate • Experiencing new challenges • It can help you keep fit, de-stress • Supporting your local community – putting something back into your community, personal satisfaction knowing you have helped others • A written/verbal references

The benefit for the local cricket club:

• More people involved within the club will help development the club • Increase numbers of participants within the club • Increase media exposure through local press and website • Developing individuals and age groups through coaching • Improving the club's facilities • Engaging with the community • Help to build a lasting legacy for the game

Here are some of the exciting opportunities you can become involved in by
'doing your local club a favour' are:

Media Officer – Previewing and reporting forthcoming fixtures, match reports, future events within the clubs to local media.

Website designer/administrator – Work with officers within the club to keep the website updated and including relevant information to the members of the club. Researching of new initivities to update the website.

Assistant Coach - Work with groups of people of different ages and gender to help individuals learn and develop their cricket skills and knowledge.

Assistant Grounds Man/Woman – help provide high quality cricket pitches for the players within the club, from first XI to the junior players within the club. Assist in the preparation, watering and rolling of cricket pitches during the season.

Official – Officiate within the club as an umpire or scorer. Joining in the fun at Kwik Cricket events, Twenty20 matches or adult matches.

Schools Cricket Liaison - Provide the link between club and schools cricket, assisting the administration of schools cricket competitions. Facilitating school/club links within clubs.

Please see our Download section for posters, postcards and leaflets - (TOP)

Do you need something to boost your CV? • Need some hands on experience to help support a job application? • Have some time on your hands? • What to have fun and meet new people? • Gain new skills and develop existing ones? • Are you applying to University and want to stand out? • Are you: enthusiastic, reliable, genuine, organised and energetic?

Then the vCricket programme is for you and you don't even need to know anything about cricket. Introduced in 2009 following research into volunteering across ECB focus clubs, vCricket is an initiative aimed at increasing the number of volunteers at clubs between the ages of 16-25. This demographic has traditionally accounted for a low percentage of active volunteers at clubs and often the work by those who do take part goes without reward and unnoticed. By 2011, V aims to increase the overall number of 16-25 volunteers in clubs to 20%. The benefits are endless and in reality, there is no reason not to become involved!

What is V? The vCricket programme is here to introduce young people into cricket, offering a broad range of volunteering opportunities, providing: enjoyable, enhancing and sustainable programmes for both volunteers and clubs. The vCricket programme will change the dynamic of the workforce to support the game. We will introduce more young people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds, male and female, to help invigorate a vibrant club network. Through consulting with young people, vCricket has designed an awards system to give something back to those who have put in considerable efforts at clubs.

vCricket Awards - The V team has consulted and listened to lots of young people and we think we understand what it is that you want back from volunteering. We have therefore set up the vCricket awards, which gives you recognition for completing 25, 50 and 100 hours. All you need to do to sign up is contact your SCB cricket development officer (Ian Gregory - details above) to find a club and then obtain an hour's book.

Then every time you volunteer in cricket you get your hours signed off by a senior member (preferably a committee member or volunteer co-ordinator) at your club. It really is that easy!

You then send in the slip at the back of the book and once you fill in our vCricket Survey Monkey we will send you a certificate and at 25 hours a vCricket polo shirt. At 50 hours you get a certificate and vCricket hooded sweater and at 100 hours a certificate and limited edition silver pin badge. Please download the vCricket Strategy document from our Download section above. - (TOP)

NatWest CricketForce is the single biggest volunteer event in sport and in 2011, a record number of 1,914 clubs registered.

Participation and registration has grown year on year and in 2012 we aim to have 40 clubs in Shropshire registered and taking part in CricketForce. In simple terms, CricketForce is 'Changing Rooms meets Ground Force'. The purpose of the event is to rejuvenate the facilities of grounds around the country, making our clubs a better place for all its members to play, train, change and socialise. The event can be as small or as large as a club wishes to make it. Whether it be painting the fences and seating around the ground or a large project such as the construction of a new pavilion or netting facilities.

In 2012, NatWest CricketForce will run from April 8th-10th. Register your club with CricketForce for the event.

CricketForce is a great opportunity for clubs to increase their volunteer base by promoting their work within the local community, getting parents of youth players involved and attracting the media to the event. CricketForce does not just have to take place over the one weekend, by planning ahead and contributing small efforts in the run-up to the weekend, you can guarantee yourself a successful event when the weekend arrives!

Get started on the road to CricketForce success by downloading the Step by Step Guide to CricketForce from our Download section above. Whatever your query, whatever information you need, you can contact the CricketForce help desk via email at natwestcricketforce@ecb.co.uk

For further information about NatWest CricketForce, including case study examples, advice and support, suggestions and a range of useful documents for planning, hosting and evaluating your event, please visit the ECB web site. Please see our Download section above, for NatWest CricketForce Top Tips. - (TOP)

The NatWest OSCAs (Outstanding Service to Cricket Awards) exist as a great way of ensuring that volunteers at clubs get the recognition which they deserve for the hard work and time they spend in creating and sustaining the environment in which we play cricket.

In Shropshire, we hold our own OSCAs event (in 2011 this was held at the White House Hotel, AFC Telford on 6th May) to celebrate the work of the volunteers across the county. From this, the winners of each category are put forward to the national OSCAs (to be held on 11th October 2011).

Nominations can be made in 7 categories

Behind the Scenes - An award for someone who has made a significant contribution to club life but has not necessarily been recognised. Someone who is willing to try their hand at anything in order to get the job done.

Young Volunteer (16-25) - An award for a young volunteer between the ages of 16-25 who has made a large impact upon their club/group/organisation through their hard work and commitment.

Officials Award - An award for an SCB official who has visibly increased the quality and quantity of officials within the county and has therefore helped the sustainability of cricket within the ECB.

NatWest CricketForce - A SCB club who has galvanised members in the club to support NWCF, gained support from local and national business, as well as linking with the local community in the recruitment of volunteers for their club.

Lifetime Achiever - An individual in Shropshire who has made an outstanding difference to their club, league, board or local cricket community over a considerable number of years.

Leagues and Boards - An award aimed at dedication and results in the quality and quantity of participation in all areas of cricket. This can be an individual or a group.

Building Partnerships - An individual or organisation that has created sustainable partnerships with schools, voluntary organisations, other sports and/or the local community.

Every individual who is nominated for an OSCA will receive a certificate recognising their efforts. It is vital that clubs recognise the work put in by their many volunteers. Often these efforts will go unnoticed so please feel free to shout about their efforts and help reward them for what they have done at your club! Nomination forms for 2012 are found below.

The judging criteria differ from each other as each category differs from each other significantly, but there is a minimum standard that all of the nominations must show:

• Evidence in the nomination form of the criteria having been achieved • Evidence that the person has had a positive and sustainable impact on their club/organisation • A demonstration of the volunteer going 'beyond the call of duty' and exceeding expectations for the good of the club/organisation/game of cricket • An ongoing commitment to the club/organisation and its members

To find out more about the NatWest OSCAs national awards, please visit the ECB web site. Please see our Download section above, for a 2012 Nomination form.

This year, anyone can be a sporting hero

Whether it’s planning the route, finding the pitch or encouraging people to take part – sport doesn’t just happen, it needs people to make it happen. Become one of 40,000 Sport Makers aged 16+ and you’ll not only get the skills, knowledge and opportunities you need to get more people playing sport, you’ll become part of the official London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic sports legacy.

Although not one of the competitive sports involved in the 2012 Olympics, cricket is very much a sport in which people can become 'SportMakers'. You can be part of the legacy that will without come from the magnificent spectacle that was the London 2012 games, and the process is very simple...Please visit www.sportmakers.co.uk and follow the steps below:

1. Sign up - Sign up by entering your postcode or county and registering with the people who run Sport Makers in your area. 2. Come to a free event - Once you’ve signed up, go to a local Sport Makers event where you’ll learn how to make sport happen. You’ll get free Adidas kit, meet sporting organisations who’ll help you on your journey and you may even get to meet an Olympian. 3. Make sport happen - Now you have all you need to make sport happen, it’s time to start organising sport with your friends, neighbours and colleagues. 4. Record your hours - Record 10 hours of sport making activity and you’re officially a Sport Maker! Look out for special messages of encouragement from athletes and a personal message from an Olympic legend along the way.

For further information regarding volunteering in cricket please contact Ian Gregory
(Shropshire Cricket Board Cricket Development Officer, details above).

To find out more about how your club can benefit from NatWest CricketForce and further information about how your club can advertise events please contact Chris Dirkin
(Shropshire Cricket Board Cricket Development Manager) - (TOP)