Make a difference – ‘Do a favour’ for the local club

Even for those who don't want to play the game, there are almost limitless opportunities to get involved within club, school, district or league levels.

This could be designing the club's website, maintenance of the site, writing media releases for the local press, assist in preparing the ground and wicket for the fixtures or even starting on the road to becoming the next future England coach!

And that can work just as well if you have family members or friends already involved or playing, and are keen to join them; or have no previous connection with cricket in any way, shape or form.

Volunteers are vital to the health and development of grassroots cricket. Without them, the future of the beautiful game at all levels would be in jeopardy.

You can make a difference; ‘do a favour’ for the local club.

Register your interest as a volunteer online now by clicking here

Here are some of the roles available within a community cricket club.

Please follow the link to the role descriptions for each role which will give you further inside to the role. 

http://www.ecb.co.uk/development/be-involved-do-a-favour/volunteer-role-descriptions,432,BP.html

Club Coaching co-ordinator Child Welfare Officer Club website Administrator                      

Club Welfare Officer Club Development Plan Lead Coach

Assistant coach Fixture Secretary Fund raiser

General maintenance Groundsman Press Officer

Schools Liaison Officer Scorer

Specific Projects and Events Team Manager                                                  

What volunteering means to cricket

It’s fair to say that cricket could not survive without its huge army of unsung heroes. Volunteering, just to be clear, includes everyone who gives their time in some way to help the game.

It includes small gestures like websites, media, match reports or making teas at a game to more fundamental contributions of course, such as preparing the facilities, or coaching kids’ teams, which may of course include the stars of the future.

It’s no exaggeration to say that big stars like Andrew Strauss, Kevin Peterson and Andrew Flintoff simply wouldn’t be where they are today without the hard work of volunteers.

What volunteering means to volunteers!

Cricket volunteers do it out of love for our beautiful game. But there are other benefits too.

In the words of Matthew Hoggard  "Every cricket team has its unsung heroes and there are thousands of people involved in the sport who make a big contribution to the success of a club simply by preparing a pitch, keeping score or making teas.

"Without the countless hours of hard work by volunteers, many cricket clubs would not be able to function and the OSCAs (Outstanding Services to Cricket Awards) is a great way of ensuring that they get the recognition they deserve."

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.

The benefit to you as an individual by ‘doing your club a favour’ are extensive; please see the consider becoming a volunteer section for further inspiration!

The ECB values all the volunteers in cricket through local award presentation and the annual NatWest OSCAs event held at Lord's and the record-breaking volunteer initiative in club cricket, NatWest CricketForce 2010

Contacts for further information:

For further information visit the ecb.co.uk/beinvolved or contact Greg Parsons. E-mail greg.parsons@dorsetcricketboard.co.uk

ECB vCricket Programme

The England and Wales Cricket Board has teamed up with v, the national charity to form vCricket.

vCricket is here to introduce new volunteers into the game offering a broad range of volunteering opportunities and providing enjoyable, enhancing and sustainable programmes for both volunteers and clubs. One of the best things about volunteering is that there are no barriers to taking part. There is such an array of opportunities linked to a club that there really is a job for everyone regardless of individual needs. Some roles can even be carried out without even leaving the house.

What are the roles that you can be involved in?

Coaching. Web Design. Umpiring. Scoring. Painting. Building. PR, Media. Photography. Fundraising. Event Management. Catering, and much more …

Through partnership funding Dorset County Board have employed a part time County Volunteer Coordinator, Will Brooks will be working with identified focus clubs to deliver the vCricket programme.

Here is the ECB vCricket Programme diagram (How it works in clubs)

Clubs that are not currently involved in the vCricket programme to date can use the model to help themselves recruit new volunteers into their club. Please feel free to use the tools available including the ‘Know your volunteers’ tool and the job descriptions, both can be located in this section of the web site.

CLICK HERE FOR THE KNOW YOUR VOLUNTEERS TOOL

Using the ‘know your volunteers tool’ document your club can identify the volunteer roles within you club you need filling, once this is completed use the role descriptions which can be found on the web site adding personal details club information to promote your roles. Please forward role descriptions to Will Brooks who will forward to the relevant organisations who will promote your opportunity.

If you have any queries or would like more information about the vCricket programme please contact Will Brooks, Dorset Volunteer Coordinator: e-mail: Greg Parsons at greg.parsons@dorsetcricketboard.co.uk or log onto the web site, www.ecb.co.uk/beinvolved

Ally Jarvis

Regional V Manager – South & South West

Other than that, just get out there and enjoy yourself!

Calling all 16–25 year-olds

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.

What is it?

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.

vCricket is funded by V which is an independent charity aiming to inspire a new generation of volunteers aged (16 – 25) in England. The ECB thanks V for their support in vCricket.

vCricket awards

The ECB vCricket programme also recognises and rewards young people for making a positive contribution to the development of grass roots cricket. The individuals voluntary involvement will undoubtedly help the game, and as a result, the ECB will recognise your contribution, providing you with a certificate and official ECB vCricket kit. All you need to do is make sure that your hours are recorded and signed off by a member of the club, preferably the Volunteer Coordinator. The vCricket milestone for rewarding volunteers: 

Complete 25 hours of volunteering within community cricket and receive a certificate of recognition from the ECB and a vCricket polo shirt.

Complete 50 hours of volunteering within community cricket and receive a certificate of recognition from the ECB and a vCricket hooded top 

Complete 100 hours of volunteering within community cricket and receive a personal letter of recognition from the ECB’s Head of vCricket, and a limited edition ECB silver pin badge.

There really is a role for everyone so get in touch with us!

You can be a part of this and by giving time (‘doing a favour’) to help your local community cricket club, you could be opening up a whole host of opportunities for yourself, both now and in the future?

You can make a difference; ‘do a favour’ for the local club.

Register your interest as a volunteer online now

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.

For a more comprehensive list of volunteer opportunities please look at our example role descriptions.

Did you know cricket is crying out for new, young and enthusiastic volunteers.

73% of employers would rather employ someone with voluntary experience over somebody without.

58% of employers say that voluntary work experience can actually be more valuable than experience gained in paid employment.

94% of people who volunteered to learn new skills had benefited either by getting their first job, improving their salary, or being promoted. (Reed/Timebank)

Why volunteer in cricket?

- Receive the vCricket Awards - Contribute to the development of cricket by volunteering

- Excellent CV or UCAS form booster - Opportunity to gain new qualifications and skills

- Gain experience of working within a sports environment - Meet new people and enjoy the cricket social life

- And most importantly … because it’s fun!

Contacts for further information:

If you cannot find what you are looking for or have a question please contact Greg Parsons, Dorset Volunteer Coordinator E-mail: greg.parsons@dorsetcricketboard.co.uk