New shirt sponsor for Northants Disability Squad.

Northants Recreational Cricket (NRC) is delighted to announce that The Cube who are based in Northampton and a day care centre for adults with learning difficulties and autism, are a partner of NRC. The partnership will see The Cube’s logo appearing on the match day shirt of the Northampton Disability Squad.

When asked why The Cube wanted to support Northants Disability Cricket they replied “Our clients enjoy sport and we encourage them to participate and try new sports. The Cube is just around the corner from the cricket ground and we regularly watch the games. Northants Cricket gives us the opportunity to watch cricket and all our clients to take part.” Jelena Milic, The Cube.

Jelena would like to see the partnership result in “Disabled people being able to try out cricket and meet new friends. Also giving them the opportunity to equally participate in all sports, have fun and keep healthy.”

"It’s great that Northants Disability is the first of its kind in the County and also to gain big name sponsors with generous support for the next two seasons. I'm sure this demonstrates that businesses in the area recognise the hard work of the coaches, players and volunteers involved in getting the Disability side up and competing in such a short time.” Andy Hill, Community Development Coach

A link to The Cube’s website can be found below:

www.thecubedisability.co.uk

A bit about disability cricket:

The County Recreational Cricket Board has, in previous years, provided coaching to disabled children in the county as part of the national Chance to Shine programme (delivered to mainstream schools) delivering coaching to over 1000 disabled children each year, and have responded to requests from special needs schools to provide coaching sessions for the children

Whilst these activities were providing a valuable service to the community it was felt that this alone was not providing a longer term sustained interest in recreational cricket for the disabled community, nor offering players with an aptitude for the game the opportunity to realise their potential within a disabled sporting structure

We identified that a key component in the success of this programme would be the full time appointment of a disability coach.  It was felt that we needed to provide a more structured series of events, run county wide, giving children accessible regular cricket and a real chance for developing their skills in the game.

We intend to provide at least 20 hours per week of structured coaching with the aim of introducing new players to the game and to offer a full player development pathway (similar to that which we operate for able bodied cricketers) so that disabled cricketers in the county can realise their full playing potential.

A bit about The Cube:

The Cube Northampton opened in early 2011. We have 2 additional facilities across south and central Northamptonshire, The Studio at Newlands, Daventry (opened in June 2004) and The Cube at Bishop Crewe House in North Street, Daventry (opened in January 2010).

We offer each client a tailored programme to suit their individual needs, with access to wheelchairs, British Sign Language, Autism Support and much more.

Holidays, day out, sports, many crafts, music, fashion and literacy and education are all a key part of our philosophy, our aim is to educate and stimulate in a fun, interesting and safe environment.

For more information about Northants Disability Cricket please go to:

www.northantsrc.co.uk/disability/

Contact information: Josh Scully, josh.scully@nccc.co.uk, 07931303110