We are going to have a really big push to try and encourage people to come and watch women’s cricket.

If you have never been to a women’s game before come and watch – 6 August at the St Lawrence Ground.  I certainly hope that all our Kent Young Cricketer Girls will come along and bring their families too.  It is not everyday that international cricket is on your doorstep!

There are some unique challenges faced by our rural communities, something that is perhaps missed by sport.  We often focus on inner city initiatives but really some of the problems in rural areas are just as great.  The feeling of isolation and boredom regularly leads to anti-social behaviour on quite a major scale. 
 
There are currently 54 Kent Police schemes that engage an average of 4000 children per week – most of these occur in urban settings.  It is envisaged that we might tie in with local Police and/or Community Wardens which could help widen the programmes currently offered into rural areas. 
Watch this space as the plans takes shape.

A big weekend for Kent’s cricket clubs – in the snow!– just look at the main page on the site and you will get a flavour of all that has been going on.

Over the next few weeks we will gather in all the success stories from NatWest Cricket Force weekend and publish them on the site. 

The event goes from strength to strength and is a testament to the energies of Dave Leighton – ECB’s National Clubs Manager (I think that is his title).  He has pioneered this programme and it is now one of the biggest volunteering schemes in the UK.  Great work Dave!

Matt Walker is one of the game’s good guys.  Always smiling and always positive - you couldn’t ask for a better role model for young cricketers.

His love of the game is evident and he is always willing to share that with anyone young or old.  Matt’s benefit year gets underway this week and I am sure we all wish him well.  You can go to his website here http://www.mattwalker2008.com/.

I really hope he has a wonderful year and thank him for his unstinting support of our youth programmes.  And if you are in any doubt about why you should support Matt’s Benefit just click here to see a great video complication of his best bits -  http://www.mattwalker2008.com/videomatt.html.

I am pleased to report that the KCB Clubs 3- tier Membership Scheme is being used as a model of best practice by ECB around the country at the moment and there are a number of counties that are following our lead.

The idea is that clubs have differing needs and therefore a package that is appropriate for a range clubs helps to meet those differing needs.  It has worked extremely well in Kent and is very well received by clubs. 

It is always nice to be recognised for something that is working well, so thank you ECB.

At last the week I have been really looking forward to on my course.  Not because it is the last one, but because finally they let us loose on strategy.

Left until last deliberately because you need the basics of finance, operations etc before you embark on it, but certainly the topic that draws it all together.

As I understand it we will focus on a number of case studies that help draw out management scenarios in addition to the usual academic theory.  Should be a good week!

Great launch today of the Study Support Sponsorship Scheme today.  Well done the Study Support team for getting this going – a really commendable effort.  Lots of local businesses were represented and they had a thoroughly entertaining afternoon.

Fingers crossed that some feel strongly enough about the work achieved by the centre to offer some form of financial support.

I think there was a fear of ECB involvement in the affairs of the umpiring and scoring world, but I am much more realistic.  I explained that KCB would be here to support the needs of this crucial cricketing community, indeed what we really want to see this group of people providing all the needs for officials under the banner of KCB.

I am sure after this positive start things will come together very well.  The launch meeting of the Kent ACO is schedule for May.

5-6 April is NatWest CricketForce weekend and it is not too late to sign up.

Just go to the CricketForce page on the site to find out more.  It could transform your club facilities in time for the new season.