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After the sun-kissed 2018 cricket season, we are all looking
forward with anticipation to what should be an amazing
summer for cricket. The David Shepherd Cricket Trust is
always seeking to find new ways to help our game expand at
the junior, grass-roots level and reach as many young people
it can so that they can all discover its important values but
also the comradeship, fun and enjoyment it offers. Grassroots
cricket is vital to the game and its future and without
the encouragement given to children talented and not so
talented, we would never be in the position to compete
nationally at the highest level, whether it be the World
Cup or against Australia for the Ashes. The Trust is here to
encourage young people to play the game in Devon and to
ensure that, through financial assistance and encouragement, it
is open to all who want to learn and play. The aim of the Trust is
to assist Devon youth and to fill funding gaps to enable the game
to prosper at all junior levels. The Trust belongs to the cricketing
fraternity and sorority and we look to them to point us in the way
of opportunities to assist and support financially youth cricket in
the county.
The Trustees aim to deliver about £20,000 in grants per year,
a challenge that requires serious fund raising and growing
the membership base. The trustees firmly believe that the
more members the Trust has the better it is for the cricket community in
Devon. The Trust is, after all, owned by and is here for the Devon cricket
community and we believe that all cricketers in Devon must take an active
interest in the work of the Trust. This is why the Trust seeks new members
from the recipient club when we make a grant.
The Trust uses roughly one half of its annual budget to support elite, junior
cricket for boys and girls where no ECB funding is provided. The other half
is for cricket clubs and schools, particularly in encouraging coaching and
formation of youth sections. This policy works well and we have, with the
help of the Devon cricket community, been able to help many clubs in
starting up junior sections and enabled them to continue and prosper. We
want to play a greater part in this but need more applications. We know
that there are more needs and opportunities for us to help. We need
these to be introduced to us and we will help.
Whilst we have helped in the past with provision of helmets at cut
prices, we do not generally support applications for equipment. Our
aim is to assist in the coaching of boys and girls and enabling them
to play cricket.
The Trust receives applications throughout the year and the winter
can be far busier than the summer with clubs promoting coaching
programs and new coaches going through training courses or
existing coaches moving up a level. Grants are given to enable these
courses to be run and for coaches to improve their skills. We
recognise coaches as particularly important and the dedication
and commitment of mature cricketers in introducing the game
and improving skills is vital and appreciated by the trustees. It
is the life blood of the future of the game.
The Trust is reliant on the generosity of a strong membership:
New members are vital to the Trust and its work – so please join!
Yearly or monthly contributions can be enhanced by the benefit of Gift
Aid. We are also most appreciative of those from the County Cricket
Club to dedicated and generous individuals who have put in a special
effort to raise funds for the charity. Together these marvellous people
provide sufficient funds for the Trust to contribute at all youth levels of the
great game of cricket in Devon.
As chairman, I wish to acknowledge the dedication and hard work of
all the trustees and Kat Hampton, our ever-diligent and enthusiastic
secretary, and thank them for their commitment in time and effort. I also
thank all those who have made their contribution in the past year without
which we could not do our work. It needs to continue.
We look forward to a great 2019 cricket season. If you are not already a
member of the Trust, then please join and share our worthwhile cause.
You could become a 111 member. Details of that and lots other matters
are on our website at www.dsct111.org.uk Guy Curry
The David Shepherd Cricket Trust
/www.dsct111.org.uk
/www.dsct111.org.uk