Latest NatWest CricketForce email update - February 15

This is a copy of the email sent to all registered NatWest CricketForce 2005 club contacts on February 15 2005

Hello to all our registered CricketForce clubs - here's the latest news and information despatch from NatWest CricketForce headquarters.

First off the latest club count - as of this morning, we had 565 clubs registered to take part in the event….it just keeps on rising, and promises to be better and better as we get closer to April!

Timeline update

All clubs should by now be finalising their projects and preparing for this to be a major event which will make a real difference to each club. Here is some advice from the CricketForce team which may help you over the next week or two:

• All clubs should now be making contact with local businesses, Local Authorities and community groups to ask for staff time/expertise, materials and resources
• Concentration should be on how to involve the local press/media to maximise publicity (meet them over a coffee where possible). Please include the NatWest CricketForce 2005 logo on all publicity - you can download it here
• Open an account at your local Magnet store to receive the ECB negotiated discounts
• Importantly clubs should be looking at ways in which they can recruit new volunteers from the weekend event to join the club and become involved after the weekend
• Keep the local CDO/County Board informed of progress
• Please continue to feed good news stories back to us at cricketforce@ecb.co.uk
• We have added some good practice examples for general information

Evaluation

Following the event a one-page evaluation will be posted online and we are asking that all clubs who participate complete the one-page summary in order that we can make a case to government and future sponsors for further support for cricket clubs. This will be invaluable so give some thought to things like:-

• The number of members, new volunteers, companies, local authorities, community groups etc involved
• Which companies etc were involved?
• Type of projects completed?
• Materials donated?
• If you had to cost the contribution in cash/kind what would the value be to the club?
• Number of volunteers recruited over the weekend that become members? (This may form part of a later evaluation when we look at the longer term legacy)

As you will no doubt be aware from clubs who have piloted the CricketForce event over the past two and a half years there are examples of increased membership, increased hire of facilities, greater involvement in the club from the community, increased sponsorship, bar profits and revenue generation opportunities all as a result of a more proactive approach and providing a more welcoming environment.

Video diary

Send us your video diary of your NatWest CricketForce 2005 event - and you could win a bat signed by the England ODI Squad for your clubhouse!

Videos must be a maximum of 10 minutes long. Please note that all videos must be in DV CAM or VHS/ S-VHS formats. We regret that no videos can be returned.

T-shirts

ECB are currently finalising plans for the production of T-shirts to be distributed to NatWest CricketForce clubs. Once details have been confirmed, we will be contacting all the registered clubs to let them know how many T-shirts they will be receiving and when.

In addition, ECB are quite happy for clubs to have their own T-shirts made up for volunteers to wear on CricketForce weekend. However, we would ask that they use the correct NatWest CricketForce 2005 design and logo.

Website

Keep visiting ecb.co.uk for the latest news on CricketForce

You can short-cut straight to the CricketForce section using www.ecb.co.uk/cricketforce

More soon from the CricketForce team