Cricket-loving young people in the Old Hill area of Rowley Regis have been given a £2,000 grant boost – to encourage more to take up the ever-increasingly popular sport.

Sandwell Council's Town Grants team has awarded the junior section of Old Hill Cricket Club a grant to provide more equipment and first aid kits for young people between the ages of five and 15 and the ladies section. The council’s local grant of £2,145  has paid for extra equipment to be used for junior and ladies section practice sessions, cricket matches and tournaments.

The organisation has received the Club Mark accreditation and cricket coaches at Old Hill Cricket Club are ECB qualified and have received relevant first aid and safeguarding training.

The approval of the funding will enable new cricket equipment to be purchased by Old Hill Cricket Club to be used by all youth cricket teams and members of the ladies section. Councillor Maria Crompton, cabinet member for Safer Communities, said:

"This is a grant which is encouraging young people to get involved with cricket, at a time when there is a big increase in the interest in the game following England’s World Cup success.

"It is important that the young cricketers get good equipment and that they have adequate first aid facilities at hand for games."

Club chairman, Mohammed Javaid, added: "The club was delighted to receive the grant because there is a big increase in the interest of cricket amongst young people. 

"To play cricket safely you need to have essential equipment which is expensive and we have used the money to provide it for our youngsters for practice sessions and matches against local teams. 

"The equipment has also been used for the ladies sections and for taster sessions we have been involved  in with Sandwell Leisure Trust."

The club holds training sessions on Fridays, between 6pm and 8pm. Anyone interested in joining can get in contact on 01384 566 827, or email mo@inspire-communities.co.uk.