Staithes under 15 cricket team lined up on the pitch in two rows, with the front row knelt down.Young cricketers from a Yorkshire seaside village will be fully prepared for the new season thanks to a grant from Broadacres.

The money will provide new equipment including bats, balls and pads for the boys and girls who make up the Staithes u15 team – allowing them to try out the sport without the costly outlay of gear of their own.

Coach Stephen Sargent said: “A lot of families are struggling these days and just can’t afford to spend a fortune on kit.

“This generous grant from Broadacres will make a big difference as it allows boys and girls to give cricket a go, see if they like it, without that outlay.”

The club, in the seaside village of Staithes near Whitby, North Yorkshire, has a cricket field and is run by volunteers with around 16 youngsters who compete in the u15 Derwent Valley Junior league.

The move into adult cricket can be a big one so the club is also looking to create an intermediate midweek league team as a stepping stone, to hopefully keep young people involved in sport as they move into adulthood.

“The idea is to get youngsters involved early so they enjoy the many benefits of sport for many years. If you don’t get them at an early age they can be lost to the Xbox,” said Steve. “This new equipment and our local kit sponsor will help attract youngsters and also makes the coaching easier.”

The Broadacres Community Development Fund supports local organisations, groups, and projects in areas where Broadacres has homes. All grants are approved a Panel consisting of Broadacres’ residents.

To apply to the Fund visit https://www.broadacres.org.uk/customer-area/getting-involved/community-development-fund/

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