The England and Wales Cricket Board Joins Forces with Derby College

Derby, United Kingdom, October 16, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Derbyshire Cricket Board have teamed up with Derby College to ensure the skills of budding construction students can help local cricket clubs upgrade their facilities.

Derby College’s Construction Academy, based in Ilkeston, is the first in the UK to sign a formal agreement with the ECB which will see them providing students to work on a wide range of building projects for cricket clubs in Derbyshire, and beyond if necessary.

Derby College has already been involved in a number of major club developments as part of NatWest CricketForce in the East and West Midlands, which brings together volunteers, professional cricketers and local communities to update facilities at cricket clubs across England and Wales every year.

This year students from Derby College will focus on Sawley and Long Eaton Park Cricket Club, where 300 people are expected to come together to refurbish an existing pavilion for the West Park based club.

There is also the potential of 50 smaller projects at cricket clubs throughout the county for students to assist with and Derby College’s Assistant Principal in charge of construction, Glyn Stenson, says:“The students are raring to get started.

“Our students have already done a fantastic job at a host of sports clubs, including cricket clubs throughout the East Midlands and we are delighted that this arrangement has been formalised with the ECB and Derbyshire Cricket Board.

“It is vital that the students gain real life work experience and put the theory and practical skills that they learn in the workshops at College into practice on site.

“It is brilliant that they can combine this valuable work experience with helping cricket clubs which are run by volunteers, rely heavily on fund raising and are a very important part of local communities.”

David Leighton, ECB Club Programmes Manager continued: “We are extremely impressed with the professionalism that Derby College students have shown in the projects they have so far been involved with.

“I hope that other Colleges throughout the UK will now follow Derby College’s lead and come on board to support cricket clubs to improve facilities and provide their local communities with a quality experience of the game.”

Mick Glenn, Club Development Officer at Derbyshire Cricket Board added: “This is all about getting better facilities and improving morale at cricket clubs in the county.

“By supporting clubs to upgrade their facilities, they are more likely to attract more members and become more financially sound – in turn providing more support to the communities.”

###