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A Teacher’s Tale

At Ambergate, we have been fortunate to have Max from Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust, come and do table cricket sessions with us. There was one year 11 student in particular that I shall always remember as this having huge benefits for.

This student was not very enthusiastic about participating in sporting activities, even when adapted for her she would struggle with self-confidence and would not want to feel like a burden. She suffered from extreme fatigue and therefore used a wheelchair for everyday activities. However, when Max joined us, things changed; she started to get immense enjoyment from table cricket through Max’s sessions and coupled with the encouragement of staff from the school we saw her blossom.

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A local tournament was arranged, which she participated in with other students from the school. They won that round and proceeded to the regional finals. Throughout this, I could see her self-confidence build, but she still held some doubts about her ability and did not believe she would go to the regional finals.

She was of course selected, not just down to ability but due to the experience she was gaining from these tournaments and her wanting to be part of a team and represent her school, which she took immense pride in.

Watching her grow from a student who would shy away from games and activities, with feelings of being a burden and not having the confidence to participate, to see her grow into almost a leader though these activities with Max, was a pure joy. From a child who struggled with her moods (and who was often in a low mood if felt under pressure or things become too much) to a child who, even in the most competitive games, could now hold herself confidently, was incredible. I witnessed her becoming a motivator to others and to see the smile on her face, before, during and after was incredibly heart-warming. She was so inspired that she asked the people there running the tournaments about how she could access something like this when she goes to college.

This opportunity has enabled her to access sport in a way which she may never have had the chance or have the confidence to do and enjoyed it. I believe she felt sport was an area she would never be able to access but through Max’s sessions with us she has represented her school in a sports team in a way she would never ever have dreamed which gave her such a sense of achievement.

I was very proud to be part of this special journey.

Nicola Hudson

Class teacher

Children playing table cricket.

Picture from one of our other partnership schools

Simon our Table Cricket Star

The Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust has been a regular visitor to Birch Wood Special Needs School in Melton to deliver Table Cricket to the children.

We first met Simon in 2021 when he attended our sessions with the rest of his class.

Simon is 95% blind so needs extra support to participate in our sessions.

Table cricket relies on the players seeing or hearing the ball approach them to allow them to strike the ball to score runs.

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Simon is an incredibly bubbly and likeable lad and we soon discovered that if everyone was quiet, he could hear the ball travel down the table and when it was closer he could strike the ball as he had been shown.

He was brilliant at timing the strike but what made it even more special was the response he had from the other children playing. Despite their own challenges both physical and mental they knew that they had to be quiet to give Simon a chance of success. They did just that which was remarkable.

Simon was able to play a full part in the session, much of that down to his own enthusiasm and perseverance but also down to the respect and love shown to him by his classmates.

We love going to Birchwood and we love Simon #superstar!

Darren Bicknell  – CEO Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust

A boy being guided whilst playing table cricket.

Father and Son Share Precious Moments

Father and son, Peter and Ethan, came along to our very first Bees Kwik Cricket session held at Melton Mowbray Cricket Club in 2010. Peter was a senior player at the club while Ethan, who is autistic, was just seven at the time. This is their story. 

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Peter

“I’d played at the club as a teenager and then again from 2004. In 2010 the club was in a poor way. We were struggling to form two sides to qualify to play in the local league and we hadn’t had any junior teams for nearly a quarter of a century.

“Darren from the Trust ran a Belvoir Bees training session for us and on the first evening there were more coaches than children but word spread and numbers grew so by the end of the season we were up to around 25 youngsters each week, something we maintained and built on over the next six summers.

“It made an immense difference to the club. Back when I was a teenager the club had 40 to 50 regular players but by 2004 there were just 13 members and we came close to folding. Today our numbers are around 90 to 100 and we’re proud to describe our club as the ‘home of family cricket’ in the town.

“We’re an inclusive club and take cricket into a local primary school running sessions both during the school day and after school. Cricket is a fantastic sport in that it ticks nine of the 10 fundamental movement skills (everything except kicking!). Our club has also become ECB Clubmark accredited. None of this would have happened if Darren and the Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust hadn’t come along.”

Ethan

“I had started learning about the sport from my Dad but even so going along to something new was a big thing for me. I was only seven and looking back it was quite brave of me really. It helped me learn how to adapt to different situations and join in other things. I did become more confident over time and a lot of us from those early sessions still play together now for the U15s.

“Last year I helped as an assistant coach at our Minis cricket sessions. It’s pretty full on but I got on well, particularly with the younger ones who would follow me around. I would set up the drills and demonstrate and help deliver the session.

“This season I’ve focused more on my own game with the aim of taking those skills into games and I came close to winning the bowling trophy. It feels great to take a wicket and I enjoy being part of a team, particularly if we win.

“When I’m playing I don’t worry about anything else but the game and think of myself as a cricketer. I enjoy scoring matches, I like statistics and records and love going to Trent Bridge to watch Notts play. I’m proud of what I have achieved.”

Father and son holding certificate together.

Peter and Ethan receiving a certificate and award for our Belvoir Bees project

Sophie and The Barn Owl

Sophie attended one of our Special Needs School Cricket and Countryside Days here at Knipton.

Sophie was a very special young lady; bubbly, confident and totally blind. She had been blind since birth, so her concept of life was very different to all of ours.

On this day, Rhi our Head Hawker and volunteer, did a demonstration of our Birds of Prey flying which is always a fun time for everyone. On this occasion, Sophie got to stroke Persil our beautiful Barn Owl.

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Now that’s not out of the ordinary but in Sophie’s words – “I have been told about Barn Owls but now I have touched and stroked Persil I now really know what a Barn Owl is, and I love him.’”

It makes you realise what an impact our work can do as Sophie now has a new understanding of the world around her in a way that none of us could ever have imagined. I was very humbled and privileged to share this special moment with her.

Darren Bicknell – CEO Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust

A girl stroking an owl whilst being supervised by two women.

Maasai Warriors Cricket Team Play at Belvoir in Feature T20 Match

The famous Maasai Cricket Warriors are to play a T20 match with a difference against the backdrop of Belvoir Castle as part of a UK tour.

The tourists will take on a Duchess of Rutland XI at Belvoir Cricket Club, Knipton, on Wednesday, August 29 (2pm start) and all are welcome.

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The Warriors play in their traditional clothing of blood red shukas and bright, beaded necklaces to symbolise and promote the positive aspects of their culture and country, Kenya, so it promises to be an amazing spectacle. They are famous for drawing on their skills of spear throwing and using a shield to bat and bowl.

The Maasai, formed in 2007, have played internationally in the UK, Australia and South Africa and use their fame and love of cricket to campaign on a range of issues such as an end to Female Genital Mutilation, HIV and AIDs, hate crime and modern slavery as well as conservation projects including protection of the White Rhino.

They will be taking on a Duchess XI selected by Darren Bicknell, the former Notts and England A cricketer who now leads sport and education charity the Belvoir Cricket & Countryside Trust. He said: “We are delighted to be staging this special game and support such a great cause. It promises to be an amazing day.”

A fundraising dinner will be held in the castle following the match.

The tour as a whole is being hosted by the Mojatu Foundation and Nottingham Trent University and will also see the Warriors taking part in a programme of cultural events and school visits.

Sir John Peace, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, is one of a number of other sponsors and partners of the tour. He said: “I am very proud of Mojatu Foundation’s  work and I am delighted that we will be able to host the Maasai team at Belvoir Castle.

“This is a fantastic cultural exchange opportunity for us here in Nottinghamshire as we prepare for Commonwealth celebrations across the city and county next year. I look forward to welcoming them.”

 

Masai Cricket Warriors Team 2018

Amy – My Cricket Journey

I first heard about the Belvoir Bees Kwik Cricket in assembly at primary school. I was in year 3 at Great Dalby Primary School (2012). It was held at the Great Dalby village cricket ground on Wednesday evenings and quite a few from school went along. My friend, Libby, attended Brownlow School and I told her about it. She started coming along too.

I remember we had Neil Atkins as one of our coaches as well as Chris Dickinson. Libby and I continued going to each season until the end of Year 6. That summer we played against each other in the annual Kusmicz Shield competition; Great Dalby vs Brownlow (we won).

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Once at secondary school we both played cricket in PE during the summer term and took part in the Leics & Rutland Chance to Shine Cricket Championship. Libby and I batted a winning partnership of 70 and I was noted as scoring more boundaries than all the schools put together! Following this match, our PE teacher, Mr Jacobs, put us both forward for trials for Leics County U13s girls’ team, we both got in and started on the girls county cricket pathway.

That summer Libby & I also returned to Kwik Cricket at Great Dalby to help coach for one final summer. The following summer, having played for county, I was awarded the U13s Most Improved Player. I also joined Thorpe Arnold juniors cricket club this year, as my dad used to play for them. Over the next 3 seasons we played as part of a mixed junior’s team and I won quite a few awards.

On a couple occasions I also helped and played for the Men’s 2nd XI team. Whilst at John Ferneley I was part of the Sporting Dream Team and was the Year 10 Sports Girl of the Year.

In recognition of my sporting activities, I was a Finalist two years running in the Melton Times Sports Awards. In 2018 I was a Finalist as Junior Sportswoman of the Year, and in 2019 I was Runner Up in the Cricketer of the Year category.

In Aug 2020 Libby and I both joined Market Overton Ladies & Girls cricket team – The Marko Marvels. Since joining them we have helped the team develop both indoors and outdoors, including being winners & runners up in the Leics Ladies Indoor Winter League and doing well in the main league, just missing out on moving up.

I really enjoy playing with the Marvels and feel a valued member of the team. I’ve won the women’s batting award 3 years in a row, won various other awards including Players Player and Club Young Person of the Year. I’ve also scored 3 centuries and made the Play Cricket Leics weekly hall of fame on several occasions. During 2024 season I’ve also felt confident enough to play for the Market Overton Mixed 2nds Saturday team and was their highest scorer of the season with 71 runs.

Having attended Loughborough College for 2 years post GCSE’s, studying Sports Coaching & Development, I am currently in my 2nd year at Derby University studying Sport & Exercise Science.

I am truly grateful to the Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust for inspiring me and setting me off on the road to success.

Two girls holding a small trophy together.

Coach Neil’s Reflections: April’s story

The main reason I love my job at the Trust is because of the difference we make to young people’s lives.

Let me tell you about a girl I met called April, who I met at one of our school sessions who was being supported by a teaching assistant because she is blind.

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As she came out to the basketball session I was running, she initially looked apprehensive and nervous as this was likely to be another situation where she would struggle to keep up with her classmates. However, she had a go and joined in where she could. With my coaching and encouragement her confidence started to grow to the point at which after a number of attempts she scored a basket, much to the celebration and excitement of her class. It was a very special moment and one that I will never forget.

From that point on she went on and joined the Trusts weekly Bees cricket sessions and has been a revelation. April joins in with all the activities assisted by coaches and friends she attends with and astounds us every week.

To be able to make a difference in this way is a privilege.

Neil Atkins

BCCT Director of Operations

Libby’s  – cricket journey

I heard about Belvoir Bees Kwik Cricket through my friend Amy.

She went to Great Dalby school (while I was at Brownlow.) The Belvoir Bees was held at Great Dalby cricket ground, and we went together on Wednesday evenings.

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I was about 7/8 at the time. I also played cricket at school as my PE teacher played cricket too. I played in various school sports competitions, including the annual year 6 Kusmizc shield match Brownlow vs Great Dalby.

They won but it was good to play. At secondary school I played in various inter school sports competitions including the Leics & Rutland Chance to Shine competition. Both the girls & boys teams from John Ferneley won. Amy and I had a winning batting partnership and we were in the Melton Times.

We were then nominated by Mr Jacobs for Leics U13 cricket trials. We both got in and played / trained over 7 years on the girls pathway. During our time at county we’ve played against some of the top regional teams in the UK and were finalists in the T20 final 2023.

From age 12-15 Amy and I also played for Thorpe Arnold Juniors. I received various awards including Junior Clubman of the Year 2018. In Aug 2020 we both joined Market Overton Ladies & Girls Cricket team (The Marko Marvels).

We’ve played there since and become integral team players, both of us winning various awards. I’ve been captain of the Marvels team for the last 2 seasons. We have also played in the winter indoor league which we have either won or come runners up.

We’ve also done well in the summer league and only narrowly missed going up. I have also played for the Saturday 2nd XI Mixed team this season. During the last 3 years I have got into teaching / coaching cricket to the juniors at Market Overton under the Dynamos scheme. I’ve gained my Level 2 Cricket Coaching qualification.

Since Aug 2024 I have started working full time for Leicestershire Cricket as part of rolling out the girl’s pathway, going into schools and inspiring the next generation of cricketers.

https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/sport/cricket/john-ferneley-college-cricketers-claim-county-double-2084933

https://nationalworld.newsprints.co.uk/38557187-cricketer-of-the-year-winner-myles-hickman-was-unable-to-attend-here-are-finalists-carel-fourie-and-amy-helstrip-with-melton-times-sports-editor-chris-harby-who-pesented-the-award-on-behal/

https://www.meltontimes.co.uk/sport/cricket/thorpe-arnold-cc-thrash-caribbean-on-less-than-tropical-day-2030862