Affiliation package develops stronger links between club and schools
Delivering our Cricket Shropshire affiliation package with Worfield Cricket Club has once again proved a big boost to all involved.
Worfield once again signed up for our Enhanced Affiliation Package after seeing the benefits of the partnership in 2025.
It involves Cricket Shropshire coaches going in to local primary schools and delivering a number of sessions – this year covering all the year groups from Year 1-6.
It culminated with a festival at Worfield featuring around 64 youngsters with a Year 3&4 competition and then a Year 5&6 competition.
Bridgnorth Endowed pupils got involved too as part of Cricket Shropshire’s Pilot Programme working with Secondary Schools around the county.
Following on from our delivery at the Endowed, pupils volunteered to attend our Young Leader Programme which then led to them getting involved in the festival at Worfield.
Cricket Shropshire hopes to be able to bid for funding going forward to allow them to scale up Secondary School delivery at schools around the county.
Examples like this prove its worth to pupils, schools and clubs.
Worfield’s Drew Corbett said: “The enhanced affiliation package has been of huge benefit to the Junior section and the club as a whole.
“The feedback from schools has been excellent, our engagement with the schools has improved and we have seen an increase in junior memberships.
“Most importantly, we have a higher number of girls playing cricket at Worfield again which has enabled us to reinstate a girls’ team for the first time in some years.
“The package ended with a festival, held at the club. This provided an excellent opportunity to engage with parents and share what the club has to offer.”
Cricket Shropshire Coach Tim Bellett said: “It’s been great to see how our work with the schools and the club as part of the enhanced affiliation package has been of benefit to both.
“We had some really good sessions at the schools, and great fun at the festival at the club, where there was a high turnout from parents which was fantastic to see.
“Thanks to the Young Leaders from Bridgnorth Endowed who helped the festival run smoothly and gave them a chance to get involved and practice their skills too.”