Community Programmes Thrive Thanks to Support from Local Businesses

Sponsorship and support from South Tyneside businesses has helped over 500 youngsters access school holiday sports camps and activities in the last twelve months.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and funding schemes, South Shields Cricket Club have been able to successfully sustain and build on the free school holiday camps and primary partnership programme that they established last year.

The South Tyneside Pledge organisation is committed to raising the aspirations and improving the health and wellbeing of young people in the borough, actively focussing on the more disadvantaged within the community.

The Club’s primary partnership programme was expanded in 2024, specifically targeting schools with more than 50% of pupils eligible for free school meals.  Free coaching sessions were run in five primary schools in South Shields and two in Jarrow, both in curriculum time and after school. There was a focus on building relationships with pupils and staff to encourage engagement with the club’s summer activities. This resulted in over one hundred children from this programme then accessing the free school holiday camps; with some progressing into club squads and over thirty children receiving full bursaries.

The Free School Holiday Camps Programme was increased from 28 days to 38 days, to include provision during the Easter Holidays and additional days at Monkton Academy. Local coaches were employed to deliver the camps and free hot healthy lunches were purchased from a local café. The camps were enhanced with guest sessions including recycling workshops; mindful sessions ran by the school nurse team and visit from the oral health team.

Patrick William-Powlett, Chairman of South Shields Cricket Club explains:

“2024 has been another really successful year for our community programmes and it is really humbling to see the difference the club is making to so many young people who may not otherwise have benefitted from having sport in their lives.

“Funding has enabled us to recruit Josphine Nkomo, captain of Zimbabwe Women’s Cricket Team to head up and coach the girls’ section and coach in schools. Josphine has been an inspirational role model to many of the girls and we are delighted to have secured the funding to bring her back in 2025!

“We work very hard to get grants in and fortunately funders appreciate what we do, but we would love to have the security of knowing we have funding in place to run our community programmes long term. These are great programmes for local businesses to be associated with and we would welcome their interest.”

Cllr Paul Dean, Lead Member for Voluntary Sector, Partnerships and Equalities, said:

“I know the team at South Shields Cricket Club work tirelessly to draw in vital funds. For this I thank and congratulate them. The support they can offer young people across South Tyneside is clear to see and provides a great example of the incredible impact private sector support can make in local communities. I sincerely hope the South Tyneside Pledge enables the Club to connect with local businesses who may be able to support in future.”

Local sponsors who have supported the club this year include Arndale Engineering, UTS, Statex, MEM Engineering, Shields Brow and Beauty, Little Shed Events and Crown Sports of East Boldon.  In addition to HAF funding via South Tyneside Council, the club remain grateful for the repeated support of the Barbour Foundation and the Dogger Bank Wind Farm Community Grant Fund.