2025 Annual-report

15 COMMUNITY REPORT Using ECB strategic funding, we provided additional umpire courses specifically targeting women and ethnically diverse communities, with an additional 62 umpires trained and given mentoring support throughout the season. We delivered five Foundation Coach and two Core Coach courses, training a further 85 coaches. A new initiative supported by Metro Bank provided us with additional resource to deliver a bespoke Core Coach course for nine coaches supporting the women and girls’ game. Our innovative Grounds Appren- ticeship that we established in 2024 concluded this December with Ollie Churches gaining a full-time role in the grounds staff at Trent Bridge. This was a first for any county where a grounds apprentice worked across the recreational and profes- sional game and was supported by Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Streetwise Parts Team. We once again hosted our Cricket Collective Awards, which is an ECB initiative to recognise volunteers within the game. This year, we had more female winners at that ceremony than ever before: a total of eight winners across 15 Cricket Collective Categories, of which three have been highly commended nationally. Investment into the game to support our recreational club facilities will ensure we help clubs to provide a welcoming environment and improve the experience for women and families. This year, another £68,000 of ECB grants have been invested into eight club projects – a figure which could yet rise by 28% – and an additional £93,840 of funding has been leveraged into the game from other stakeholders. OurWest Park partnership with Rushcliffe Borough Council has been a great example of the club and recreational game working closely together for the benefit of the wider game. “A NEW INITIATIVE SUPPORTED BY METRO BANK PROVIDED US WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCE TO DELIVER A BESPOKE CORE COACH COURSE FOR NINE COACHES SUPPORTING THE WOMEN AND GIRLS’ GAME.” Mandy Wright “OURWEST PARK PARTNERSHIP WITH RUSHCLIFFE BOROUGH COUNCIL HAS BEEN A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE CLUB AND RECREATIONAL GAME WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE WIDER GAME. ” Mandy Wright