Sidmouth Cricket Club has achieved Clubmark accreditation from the Devon Cricket Board.

Sidmouth Cricket Club has achieved Clubmark accreditation from the Devon Cricket Board, a process devised between Sports England and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to create a benchmark for high quality community club cricket and, in particular, the promotion and prioritisation of junior cricket development.Fronted by a small team of Tom Overthrow, Colin Wright, Mel LeRoux and Charlie Dibble, elements of the programme were put in place over a six month period, the main elements being a duty of care and safe-guarding children, a cricket coaching programme, the links between club and community and club management. A comprehensive evidence file was compiled and finally a site visit was held on May 22 with Matt Theedom, Devon Cricket Development Manager to review a colts' coaching evening. In addition, an on-line development plan was written to establish current status and to determine requirements and needs over the next five years. This plan focused on the development of volunteers and qualified coaches, programmes to develop facilities at the Fortfield and the second ground at Bicton College and, most importantly, a review and development of the young players and the work with local schools to introduce and further their youngsters' enjoyment of the game. In achieving Clubmark, Sidmouth Cricket Club has illustrated it provides a child friendly environment to experience cricket from an early age and also becomes a focus club within Devon better placed to receive funding through the ECB helping to promote cricket to youngsters in our area. Many thanks to all club members who helped in this lengthy process and particularly Matt Theedom who provided sound advice and encouragement along the way.