On the back of the Cricket Ireland (CI) Clubmark Accreditation Scheme that all sporting clubs seek to achieve around Northern Ireland, the Northern Cricket Union (NCU) have designed an Emerging Accreditation Scheme which enables cricket clubs within the NCU to have a clear plan in achieving the CI Clubmark Accreditation Scheme. The Emerging Accreditation Scheme ensures that cricket clubs create and live by the appropriate documents (such as Club Constitution, Safeguarding, Risk Assessment etc.) necessary to function as a progressive cricket club.

Cooke Collegians Cricket Club and Dundrum Cricket Club are inspiring examples of clubs in the NCU who have attained the Emerging Accreditation Scheme and are now aspiring to achieve the Cricket Ireland Clubmark Accreditation Scheme.

Dundrum Cricket Club is doing great work around the South Down area promoting the game in primary schools and working alongside the NCU staff in making their club safer and more attractive to new junior and senior members. Stephen Calvert and his committee have worked hard during the spring months to complete the Emerging Accreditation Scheme.

Stephen said, ‘The biggest challenge in completing the Emerging Accreditation was taking the first step. We formed a small sub group of three from our committee with each person taking responsibility for a number of the set criteria. We had two preparation meetings at which we reviewed our progress and then met with one of the NCU Development Staff, our very helpful nominated NCU contact, to get feedback on our application. This proved to be very useful along with the templates available from the NCU website.  We kept our main committee informed throughout the process and now look forward to embarking on the Cricket Ireland Clubmark Accreditation Scheme. The plan is to work on this during the long winter months’.

Another club that have faced challenges during the past winter is Cooke Collegians, however they have reacted in a positive fashion and harbour greater ambitions to continue to improve their club. Cooke Collegians have recently moved from Shaw’s Bridge to Fullerton Park in Dunmurry. Cooke Collegians Chairman, Trevor Lennon said, ‘Having found ourselves without a 'home base' last winter the opportunity to undertake the 'Emerging' Accreditation Scheme came at a perfect time for us. It has helped us to re-evaluate and refocus who we are as a club and where we want to go and, at the same time, put correct structures, policies and systems in place. In doing so, it has re-energised our committee and demonstrated to us the importance of collective responsibly. We are extremely proud to have achieved this.’ 

Any cricket clubs interested in Emerging Accreditation Scheme, are invited to contact:
Nigel Jones, Cricket Ireland’s Regional Development Officer in the Northern Cricket Union on (M) 078 7941 6121 (e) nigel.jones@cricketireland.ie