Nobel School & Stevenage Cricket Club Satellite Club is a Success
Stevenage Mayor Cllr Sherma Batson was joined more than 35 pupils in an active and fun cricket session in the afternoon sun last Friday.
She was attending the launch of the newly established Satellite Club at Nobel School - a sports club that bridges the gap between physical education, school sport and community club sport.
The Satellite Club is linked with Stevenage Cricket Club and sessions take place each Friday at the end of the school day, providing any 11-18 year old boys and girls in the area with a fantastic opportunity to take part in informal sport right on their door step. Gary Brown, an experienced and inspirational coach, makes the cricket sessions at the Satellite Club inclusive, fun and very social.
A number of guests from partner organisations involved in making this club happen also joined in the fun. Representatives from the school, Stevenage Cricket Club and Hertfordshire Cricket, local Sports Development Officer Louise Gallagher and members of the Herts Sports Partnership team are delighted with the success of the club.
Cllr Sherma Batson is a keen enthusiast for community development and had a great time taking in the afternoon activities. She was joined by Helen Foy, who was an important link between the school and Stevenage Cricket Club.
Through the Nobel Satellite Club, Ben Wallis and Dominic Chatfield from Hertfordshire Cricket ran a cricket activator course to qualify 20 cricket activators, who will help with umpiring, scoring and assisting coaching sessions. For all Satellite Clubs, the focus is on giving participants the chance to take part in informal, friendly and inclusive sport in familiar surroundings. Ultimately this programme should make it easier for young people to join clubs, keep active and stay involved in sport and physical activity.
The Satellite club is jointly delivered as part of the Cricket Foundation's Chance to Shine initiative and Sports England's Satellite Club Programme. Both are key partner agencies to Hertfordshire Cricket, who co-ordinate the Chance to Shine initiative within Hertfordshire.