Raising Funds, Raising Standards at Ebbw Vale CC
Raising Funds, Raising Standards at Ebbw Vale CC
Ebbw Vale Cricket Club is using targeted fundraising to improve its facilities and invest in the future of grassroots cricket at their club through Toyota Good for Cricket Prize Draw initiative.
For grassroots cricket clubs, fundraising is often essential to keeping the club running. However, effective fundraising can also help clubs move beyond meeting day-to-day costs and invest in facilities that improve the experience for players, volunteers and spectators.
Ebbw Vale Cricket Club is a great example of how identifying a clear facility need, setting a realistic fundraising target and engaging the wider club community can help turn an ambition into a tangible improvement.
Like many grassroots clubs, Ebbw Vale places significant emphasis on their fundraising efforts to ensure their long-term sustainability, in addition to identifying projects that could make a real difference to its members. One of these was the replacement of its ageing scoreboard which is a prominent feature at Eugene Cross Park. The club currently uses a portable scoreboard on a trolley after having to invest in a new solution a few seasons ago due to their original scoreboard failing. However, this has proven to not meet their needs as it can be time-consuming due to the difficulty in setting up and operating for each game. Through the Toyota Good for Cricket Prize Draw, the club decided that raising funds towards restoring its original scoreboard with new LEDs and upgraded features would be a more practical and effective solution. By being a part of the draw reduces pressure on volunteers as all the hard work of collecting prizes is taken care of by the Toyota team. Additionally, 100% of ticket sales go to participating cricket clubs, so it’s a great opportunity to raise additional funds for your club.
Having a specific project in mind has helped the club clearly communicate what it is fundraising for and demonstrate how supporters’ contributions can make a tangible difference.
Ebbw Vale set an initial fundraising target of £500 towards the scoreboard project. While the club knows that the overall project will cost more, setting an achievable target has provided a clear focus for the campaign and has helped drive the ticket sales.
At the time of writing, Ebbw Vale have already surpassed their target and have raised £710 from a staggering 53 supporters, which showcases the vast amount of community support and that they are a key hub in the community.
This approach demonstrates that fundraising doesn’t always need to start with a huge target. Breaking a larger project into achievable fundraising goals can help clubs build momentum and demonstrate progress.
“This initiative has been instrumental in helping us raise vital funds to repair the old scoreboard and the club are grateful for all the support we have received so far,” said Nick Pepper, Club Secretary. “This is our first year getting involved and we will be signing up again next year!
“Fundraising is just as important to grassroots cricket as playing matches and running junior teams. Without the hard work of members raising funds in different ways, maintaining the club and providing opportunities for players would be extremely challenging.”
A key part of Ebbw Vale’s approach has been using communication channels that are already part of everyday club life.
The club has promoted the fundraising regularly to maintain momentum through:
- Social Media
- WhatsApp Groups
- Club Apps (Spond)
- Word of Mouth
The club has also encouraged its members and supporters to share the fundraising messages with their own networks. All of which has helped the club reach beyond its immediate membership and demonstrate exactly what the fundraising will contribute towards.
Ebbw Vale’s success provides some useful lessons for other cricket clubs looking to fundraise for facilities or other development projects:
- Identify a clear project
Give your fundraising a purpose. A specific facility or equipment project makes it easier to explain why support is needed. - Set an achievable target
If the overall project is expensive, consider breaking it into smaller fundraising targets and milestones. - Show people what their support will achieve
Photos of the existing scoreboard and scorebox have helped Ebbw Vale demonstrate the need and make the project tangible. - Use the channels you already have
Social media, WhatsApp, club apps and existing member networks can all be effective fundraising tools. - Encourage people to share
Asking members and supporters to share fundraising messages can significantly extend the campaign’s reach. - Think beyond the immediate need
Fundraising can help clubs move from simply covering annual running costs to investing in facilities and creating better experiences for future generations.
For clubs considering their own fundraising ambitions, the message is simple: identify the need, set the goal, tell your story, engage your community and build towards the improvement together.
How to sign up to Toyota Good for Cricket Prize Draw
- Visit the Toyota Good for Cricket website: https://www.toyotagoodforcricket.co.uk/find-a-club
- Create an account using your name, contact details, email address and a password.
- Register your cricket club- You’ll need your club’s name, Play-Cricket Club ID and postcode.
- Add your club details, including a logo, short description and what you’re fundraising for.
- Provide your club bank account details- This must be an account held in the club’s name, rather than an individual’s account.
- Once approved, share your club’s page with players, members, supporters, friends and family to encourage them to take part.
If your club would like support with fundraising, then please contact your Club Development Partner.
