Dear Member

 

Dear Member

In the light of events within our game during the past two weeks, we are writing to provide you with an update on the current situation and to share with you how we as a club, and the wider game of cricket, begin to address the issues raised.

Like everyone else connected with our game, we were very saddened by the testimony at last week’s Department for Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee hearing.

It has made for an extremely difficult period for us all, as we see the game we love dominate media headlines for all the wrong reasons.

We have all witnessed the harm that can be caused when people, be it inadvertent or deliberate, behave in a way that causes distress to others.

As an organisation, we have always tried to create positive and fulfilling cricketing experiences for people from a wide range of backgrounds, and we will continue to do so.

Each year, we report to our members in detail about the participation initiatives taking place throughout Nottinghamshire. With each passing year, we are doing more to engage the diverse range of communities that exist within our county and we are committed to ensuring that the events of the past fortnight provide the impetus for this to pick up more pace as we move forward.

Within the club's Inspiring Nottinghamshire Through Cricket strategy for 2021 to 2025, our stated mission is 'to give our players, members and supporters great experiences, and to create welcoming environments where diverse communities can share their passion for cricket.'

This is a positive mission, and one with equity, diversity and inclusion at its heart. The scope of that task across the entirety of the professional and recreational game in the county is vast, but we are determined to do all we can to achieve it.

However, given the experiences recently shared within the wider game, we must all acknowledge that some individuals may not have felt comfortable, respected or welcome in the past.

Early November saw the launch of a Call for Evidence by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC). By clicking on the highlighted link, you can read more about the scope of its work.

The ICEC, which is independent of the ECB, has been created to evaluate the current state of equity in cricket in the UK, to identify where discrimination and inequity in all its forms exist and to provide guidance on action required within the game.

The Commission’s role is to capture people’s lived experiences across the professional and recreational game, and the current stage of the process is via an anonymous and confidential online survey.

The survey is open to anyone with a past or current connection to cricket that wishes to share their experience and views – be it as a player, coach, official, employee, volunteer, parent, supporter or you as a member of our club. It can be accessed by clicking here…

Should you wish to raise any concerns with us directly, you can confidentially contact the club via the email address equity@nottsccc.co.uk and we will ensure that the right processes are followed.

As we continue to come to terms with recent events, it is important that we come together as a game and show care, compassion, apology and action to those who have suffered unacceptable behaviour or discrimination.

The game is united in its determination to learn from those with lived experience and to find out how we become more inclusive going forward.

Today, following a Chairs' meeting, the ECB, the First-Class Counties, the MCC, the Professional Cricketers’ Association, the National Counties Cricket Association, the Women's Regional Hosts and the Recreational County Cricket network have jointly committed to a five-point plan, with 12 tangible actions, with the aim of creating a culture that eliminates discrimination and makes the game more open and inclusive than ever.

The details of the pledge are available to read here…

Some of its contents are things we do already or are working towards as part of our strategic plan. In other areas, it will challenge us to do more to drive the changes that are required in this critically important area.

It is a time for us all as cricket lovers to absorb what we’ve heard and to perhaps reflect upon our own behaviours and attitudes: being willing to listen, learn and support all those affected, and those who are dealing with their past mistakes too, to find lasting and genuine collective solutions.

During the remainder of the winter, we will consider and implement plans to ensure that our venue, our club and our game are welcoming places for all and we will keep you updated on our progress.

Our thanks for your continued support as we navigate the way ahead.

Jeff and Lisa