Clubs can benefit from Cricket Foundation’s National Annual Club Draw

The Cricket Foundation is hoping that at least £400,000 can be raised by the 2005 National Annual Club Draw – providing valuable funds for clubs to boost cricketing opportunities for young people.

For the past four years the Cricket Foundation has promoted the National Annual Club Draw, a scheme whereby cricket clubs can raise considerable funds and ease some of the financial challenges with which most have to contend.

The Draw is open to all clubs and in 2004 just over 1,159 clubs generated in excess of £289,000, every pound of which was retained by the clubs to spend in developing their club to the benefit of young cricketers.

Cricket Foundation Director, Nick Gandon, said: “It is our ambition that at least 1,500 clubs participate in 2005 and that the sum raised increases to at least £400,000.

“The Draw offers cricket clubs an entirely fail-safe, risk-free opportunity to fund cricketing opportunities for young people. All that clubs are required to do is to apply for tickets, sell them and retain 100 per cent of the income as a donation from the Cricket Foundation.

“This is on an understanding that they will agree to return 10 per cent of what they raise back to the Foundation to help us cover some of the costs. All the prizes are found, all the costs are underwritten and all the work is undertaken by the Cricket Foundation. It really couldn’t be much easier!”

The Cricket Foundation is grateful to East Grinstead Cricket Club in Sussex which kindly hosted the Grand Draw in September 2004 and to England all-rounder Rosalie Birch (pictured), who drew the winning tickets and answered questions about her own career in cricket.

East Grinstead vice-president Roger Dakin said: “2004 was the first time we took part in the Draw and we raised over £800. We’d not known of the Draw’s existence before, but we do now!

“It’s an outstanding opportunity by which to help young cricketers. Clubs would be daft not to take part.”

In 2004 cricket clubs within Yorkshire raised the most - over £20,000 between them - followed by those from Surrey and Wales. The most successful individual club was Welford Park CC in Berkshire, which raised £1,805, followed by Saxton CC in Yorkshire and Windsor CC in Berkshire.

For more information on the Draw, to download an application or fill in an online application form – visit the Cricket Foundation’s website

See also:

National Grand Draw for Clubs 2005 - information letter (146 KB)