One strand of the Project is the preparation of a scheme of work for local schools, referenced to the National Curriculum, for a Local History Project about their local cricket club.

Click here for the downloadable activities designed for local schools.

This is a wonderful way of developing an awareness and appreciation of the heritage of local cricket and could produce additional support and goodwill which benefits the cricket club and the local community for years to come. We would be grateful for your co-operation in bringing this to fruition for the local school(s) in your area.

We propose to divide the scheme of work into three sections:

1. Pre-Visit
2. Visit to the Ground
3. Post-Visit.

1. The Pre-Visit Section forms the major part of the work, using copies, transcripts and adaptations of resources from cricket club archives. It would be much appreciated if, at the request of the school, you could recommend a 'club stalwart' for the children to interview, ideally an articulate former player who has retained close links with the club and can recount changes observed during the last few decades. Some schools may also pursue the suggestion of studying the club as a small business and request an interview with the chairperson, treasurer or secretary.

2. The Second Section is provisionally planned, with your permission, as a visit to the ground. We would liaise closely with yourselves and the school to arrange this. On the visit it is likely that the school will require:

• permission to play Kwik Cricket on the outfield
• access to toilet and washing facilities
• access to an indoor area in case of rain
• opportunity to study photographs, trophy cabinets etc.
• opportunity to see the ground machinery and, if possible, interview the groundsman or a member of the groundstaff

The safety of children on all school visits is obviously paramount. Whilst their safety is the responsibility of the teaching staff in charge, a cricket club is also responsible for any accidents which occur on its ground, Therefore the school will need to be told in advance about any areas which are out of bounds for the children. We will be happy to advise about this if you wish.

You will be aware about the issue of child protection from the English Cricket Board and the national media. Schools cannot guarantee that every adult they may encounter during out-of-school visits has been checked by the CRB, but have to follow policies and procedures so that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure the safety of the children. For this reason the extent of the role of adults from the cricket club who are assisting on the day must be clearly defined as, for example, unlocking and locking the premises, or being interviewed by the class. We are, regretfully, obliged to insist on this.

3. The Post-Visit activities include creative, practical design and artistic tasks which will contribute to a display of work about the cricket club. It would be ideal if the display could eventually appear at public venues in the locality, including the cricket club and we would be happy to assist in arranging this. Our suggested activities also include the possibility of the school raising money for the club by creating a match-day programme or making foodstuffs to be sold for teas. We hope this is agreeable to you and, if the school chooses to pursue these activities, we will be happy to assist with arrangements.

If you have any questions about the school project, do not hesitate to contact us.