Somerset Cricket Foundation (SCF) have successfully bid for some Ethnically Diverse Communities Funding (Cricket Cities) for 2025-2028 from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
SCF are developing a strategic plan to engage ethnically diverse communities within recreational cricket in the South Bristol region. The City of Bristol is serviced by two Cricket Foundations, Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation and Somerset Cricket Foundation (SCF) with the River Severn providing a natural boundary. The area of South Bristol is the home for a range of diverse communities and comes under the auspices of Somerset Cricket Foundation. The relationship between the two is based on league and club development support, schools programme delivery and community engagement provision. However, this partnership work is new and groundbreaking for the SCF.
The core aims of the funding is to:
- Supporting those from ethnically diverse communities already involved in cricket.
- and celebrating their contribution to the recreational cricket landscape.
- Engaging more people from ethnically diverse communities and reducing barriers
- to recreational participation.
- Intersectional developments such as growing participation and urban cricket development and delivery in the broadest sense.
The funding will principally support a place-based approach that primarily targets Black (African Caribbean) and South Asian Communities within the locality. Both communities have been targeted have a history of playing cricket and investment will be deployed to ensure delivery not only reaches the targeted community but overcomes the unique barriers to engaging them with cricket.
It will be a place-based approach in key areas of South Bristol location such as Totterdown, Fillwood and Knowle – connecting with highest concentration of diverse communities in the area. SCF have established positive relationships with the community initially though its networking relationship with a Primary Care Network in the heart of BS3 with likeminded partners and organisations.
As a result of our initial interactions, SCF have connected with faith organisations such as the Jamia Mosque in Totterdown, Inn’s Court Christian Fellowship and urban hubs such South Bristol Family and Friends and the Bristol City Council resettlement teams by showcasing our presence in community-based events and undertaken an audit of the locality (key people) and facilities that might support future work.
SCF mutually reciprocated the offer by inviting our new partners to attend match experiences at Cooper’s Associates County Ground at Somerset County Cricket Club in Taunton over the summer months namely to the club’s Family Day and its 150th birthday match day celebrations. This really strengthened our trust, bond and working relationship.
Members of the Jamia Mosque community enjoying a visit to the Somerset Cricket Museum
Members of South Bristol Communities enjoyed the Family Fun Day
Following on from this SCF connected with local community leaders and residents to take an active role in supporting, volunteering, and taking ownership of cricket related initiatives.
SCF were delighted to organise and run a very successful “Merchant’s Academy Partnership Day” on Sunday 30th November. This included running four cricket-based sessions in a day at the Merchant’s Academy Sports Centre. SCF provided the following opportunities:
A two-hour Cricket coaching session for young players from the Jamia Mosque aged 12-16 coordinated by Hafiz Safwan and Iman Ahsan.
After a whole group fielding and catching warmup and some focus on bowling and batting skills– the group of sixteen players were divided into two teams of eight (four pairs): each pair batted for four overs. The two teams selected by the youngsters were naturally “Pakistan Super League” based Lahore Qalanders v Peshawar Zalmi
Lahore batted first:
- Pair one – Ibrahim and Abdullah were 26 for 2 net score 22
- Pair two – Salmah and Sohail were 36-0 net score 36
- Pair three-Umar and Ahmed were 16-1 net score 14
- Pair four -Adam and Ishaaq were 36-4 net score 28
- Overall, Team Score for Lahore 100-7 wickets
Peshawar batted second:
- Pair one – Muslim and Usman were 38 for 2 net score 34
- Pair two – Zoheb and Jameel were 26-2-0 net score 22
- Pair three-Khalid and Murtaza were 28-1 net score 26
- Pair four -Ayan and Qasim were 26-1 net score 24
Overall, Team score for the eventual winners- Peshawar 106-6
A very close game with lots of enthusiasm and skills on display was enjoyed by all concerned.
Safwan from the Jamia Mosque said
“Thank you for all your support and the rest of the team that helped make this work. Myself and our community really enjoyed cricket and we look forward to more session in the future”
A one-hour Cricket coaching for young players from South Bristol Communities for 5–8-year-olds (All Stars) and a 90 mins (Dynamos session) for 8–11-year-olds coordinated by Rosan from the BS13 locality.
Both groups enjoyed lots of short skilled activities incorporating catching, fielding, throwing followed by a batting rapid fire challenge. Thank you to parents and adults for joining in the sessions.
The All-Stars Crew of Muhammad, Eesa, Haider, Ahdia, Aymen, Omar
The Dynamos Crew of Muhammad, Mohammad, Haroon, Miguel, Giselle, Abdirahman, Raheem, Hariq, Elsie, Maab, Muhammed, Matab, Reema
A two-hour adult (18+) Tape ball taster session in partnership with the Friendly Cricket Collective (FCC) coordinated by Andy James and the FCC team supported by Hafiz Safwan and his network of friends from the Jamia Mosque.
Hafiz’s team “Young & Bearded” (name chosen by them) comprising of Hafiz S, Hafiz Ha, Kamran H, Hafiz Hi, Haider A, Aadam K, Mohamed R, Abduallah H locked battle with the experienced FCC squad of Idrees, Andy, Rob, Ben, Tom, Theo, Iman Ashan and John.
Tape ball games are short games of 8 overs a side -Hafiz’s team had three innings progressing from 46 to 122 to 171 whilst FCC batted twice scoring 101 to 212. A special thank you to FCC for support SCF with this initiative.
Andy from FCC
“From our perspective, the adults tape ball pilot game was successful. Sixteen players enjoyed themselves and we learned a bit about tape ball equipment and some of the official rules. Tape ball was fun. Clearly a format that resonated with some of the guys playing. Enjoyed meeting Safwan and his group. A good connection made there. Some of his group members are keen to play again and explore other opportunities to play tape /hard ball cricket.”
Team Hafiz “Young & Bearded” v FCC – Tape Ball taster session
SCF have also given support to displaced communities at a hotel in the city centre via the Bristol City Council resettlement team leader via Samina.
Samina said
“Thank you again for providing such professional quality equipment for the hotel. I met with the Welfare Officer, and he has told me how he has been playing for a local Afghan team and he has been running sessions in the hotel with great attendance. He is now looking at coaching children as well as adults and is very thankful for your support.”
This is only the beginning, SCF are keen to build on these sessions with a view to running more regular sessions and positively impacting on participants to engage in cricket in a way that resonates with them and their communities.
Steve Gass of Somerset Cricket Foundation commented
It’s great to be delivering work in South Bristol and connecting with community partners to help make cricket more diverse. We want to build on the excellent work Mustafa has done in engaging with these communities, and from this, develop a longer-term and sustainable offer that will hopefully encourage even more people to get involved in this great sport.
SCF are keen to connect with likeminded organisations in the area who actively support diverse communities, and anyone is interested in supporting/connecting/sponsoring with this initiative please contact:
Mustafa Shaikh-Community Activation Officer – Part Time
Mustafa.shaikh@somersetcricketfoundation.org
Mobile 07385 818493 and Office 01823 352266
Steve Gass – Community Engagement Manager
steve.gass@Somersetcricketfoundation.org
