Cricket facility appeal at Pedmore Technology College
23rd July 2008
Headmaster David Kemp and teacher and Community Liaison Worker, Mohammed Saeed welcomed Margot James, Conservative Party Candidate for Stourbridge and Councillors Hanif, Knowles and Wilson to the College last week to discuss the launch of an appeal for improved cricket facilities.
In recent years the proportion of children from ethnic minority communities has increased from 14% to 32% of the total number of children at the school. Many of these pupils are from families of Pakistani origin and have the love of cricket instilled in them from a young age. Hence the proportion of children from the school excelling at cricket and getting trials with Worcester is increasing steadily.
Margot and the councillors viewed the land proposed for the cricket practice facility and heard that it had become something of a dumping ground. The land lies on the school’s perimeter and it would make an excellent practice facility comprising three bays. The project will benefit at least seventy budding cricketers from all communities.
It is estimated that the appeal will need to raise £60,000 in total. The School itself will provide 20% of the target and the committee will plan a strategy for targeting the most susceptible charities and foundations for the remaining amount. With three councillors present, interested and cricket loving we should be off to a good start where Dudley MBC is concerned.
Margot James is getting behind the appeal, she said "The cricket facility at Pedmore Technology College will be good for integration, for encouraging young people to focus on sport and for reducing anti-social behaviour, that is a hat trick of wins across some important areas for Stourbridge and I will do all I can to help the school realise their goal."
Photo: Margot James and Cllrs Hanif, Knowles and Wilson visit Pedmore Technology College to launch an appeal for improved cricket facilities.
