Help how we we get more women involved in our club?

[PapaJohnJohn]

Hi

I am a volunteer at a cricket club in York. We have recently had a discussion about our future as a community club and we recognise that we need to do more than just offer opportunities to play. We think that the best way to broaden our membership and appeal to look at how we can make the club more attractive to women, particularly mums and children. We at located at the heart of our local community and we have lots of space on site that isn't really being used well. Obviously we'd love more women and girls to play cricket but in the first place we'd just like the club to be more representative of our community and that might mean using thr clubhouse and facilities for reasons other than cricket. Any help/ideas much appreciated

Could one of your members offer free coaching sessions to local primary schools? Or run a cheap/free after-school club?

With all your space, you could offer to put on a Games day as a one-off, or regular multi-sport sessions say on weekday evenings for 10 weeks in summer (charge £1.50 per child, for say 1.5 hours, would need lots of volunteers, though).

Quiz and chips nights which will attract keen Quiz goers and raise a few pennies, but use it as an opportunity to advertise.

We are close to a cricket club which has a terrific rep for its youth development programme. Get in touch and ask what they do?

How about doing something special for mother's day, like a session where they can try out cricket with their children and then have cream tea afterwards or something.

if you have space to hire out, why not offer it to other clubs or for venue hire? That will draw people to the venue and they will then be able to see what you have to offer?

Last June our local girl guide pack held its weekly meeting at the local cricket club for 3 evenings. The club house was available when there was a down pour, but most of the time was spent outdoors with the girls doing various fun throwing/ bowling/ catching/ running/ obstacle course games etc. Juice and biscuits available for break-time. The emphasis was on the girls having fun, and there was an opportunity for the girls to continue with the cricket club. Letters were given to parents explaining the opportunities available.
Also on the 3rd evening, mums were invited along to join in too.