THE David Shepherd Cricket Trust is to pour £9,000 into youth cricket coaching this winter through its latest round of grants.

Last winter the Trust ran a pilot project, offering £600 grants to the first 10 clubs to sign up 10 new members.

Eleven grants were eventually paid out to clubs, who spent the money on winter workshops.

Richard Wyatt-Haines, the secretary of the Trust, said the scheme was so successful it is being extended this year.

Wyatt-Haines, one of the founders of the Trust, announced a package of grants during the Devon Cricket Board awards night staged at Exeter Chiefs’ Sandy Park function suite on Friday night.

More than 300 young cricketers, their team managers and parents, attended the event.

Clubs who won grants last year are eligible to apply for a further £300 this winter.

And the Trust is running another recruiting competition with grants of £600 again available to clubs signing up 10 new members.

Said Wyatt-Haines: “I am delighted to announce more funding to support clubs over the winter”

“Last year we put £6,600 into club cricket winter coaching, paying for halls, paying for coaching, so that you and your club peers can go out and get that critical coaching in the winter

“I am pleased to say in terms of the importance of sustainability, those clubs who applied last year, if they apply again we will provide them with another £300

“Separate from that we want another 10 clubs to get £600 each for winter training.

“The first 10 clubs in the county who can get 10 membership application forms into us – repeat ones ideally – will be paid £600 to go towards colts winter coaching programmes

“It might be equipment you want to use, it might be for a sports hall or it may be to pay for coaches.

“Start working with your colts managers and get those applications in. We want to give you £600 each.”

The Trust distributed more than £37,000 over the past 12 months in grant aid to clubs, youth age groups, women’s and girls’ cricket, schools and other cricket-related projects.

“Every boy and girl in this room benefited from some of the £6,500 the Trust put in to winter age-group training programmes,” said Wyatt-Haines.

“We made £4,000 available last winter for women – and are putting another £2,500 in this winter.

“The directors have just agreed £5,000 to go into schools to get more youngsters playing at primary level so they filter through to secondary school; then feed through to clubs.

“These are enormous sums of money for a little charity, as we are.”

Wyatt-Haines said the work of the Trust relies on expanding the membership and recruiting members who will project manage fund-raising ideas.

“We have around 450 members now and could really do with more, especially people with organizational skills.

“Visit our website – www.dsct111.org.uk – and sign up. We need your support.”

To apply for a grant go to the David Shepherd Cricket Trust via the highlighted link and complete the grant application form at the bottom of the page.