2025 Annual-report

17 COMMUNITY REPORT place during a storm! – as well as our Christmas charity auction, and they continue to be vital sources of funds. A new look and refreshed Positive Futures programme has been launched with the support of Rushcliffe Borough Council. The long-running partnership has strengthened over the years and will see more young people who are on the verge of exclusion or involved in anti-social behaviour engaged in one-to-one support, group work- shops and diversionary holiday and after-school sports activities. As I round out this report, I would also like to once again thank the unwavering efforts of our Heritage team, led so diligently by Steve LeMottee. A particular highlight of another busy year for the team was the visit by a group of Australians to commemorate the first cricket tour of England made by an Australian team, the Aboriginal XI in 1868. The visitors’ party included descendants of three players from the match against Nottingham Commercial CC at Trent Bridge, and their programme included three talks, a display of historic artefacts and information, and interviews. The team also traced descendants of two Nottingham cricketers who met our Australian visitors for afternoon tea and a photocall. As part of our ongoing Pavilion redevelopment, experienced heritage professionals reviewed the condition of many historic objects that were removed from the building before work began. Elsewhere, volunteers helped to organise and deliver events and displays, lead guided tours, support the ‘Trent Bridge Class- room’, and clean and conserve books and historic documents. They also compiled an index of matters discussed by the Club’s General Committee since 1882 and identified and classified historic photographs. As we look to the year ahead, we remain committed to deepening our impact and broadening our reach to give everyone across Notting- hamshire an opportunity to engage in our cricket and community programmes. While the challenges faced by our communities are real, so too is the potential for transformation when people feel supported, connected, and valued. We look forward to another exciting year of delivering meaningful and lasting change. “AS WE LOOK TO THE YEAR AHEAD, WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO DEEPENING OUR IMPACT AND BROADENING OUR REACH TO GIVE EVERYONE ACROSS NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN OUR CRICKET AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES.” Mandy Wright