Over the past few months, the Community Department of Glamorgan County Cricket Club has worked closely with a group of local schoolchildren and teachers to create a film celebrating the rich heritage of Sophia Gardens where the Club’s headquarters are situated. To celebrate the start of the new school year, the film has had a premiere at the school and is now being released to a wider audience on social media.
Thanks to funding support from Fusion and assistance through Time Credits from SPICE, pupils and staff from St. Helen’s Catholic Primary School in Barry have carefully scripted and taken part in the film, besides taking part in a number of cricket-related activities at their school, as well as attending some of Glamorgan’s home games this summer at Sophia Gardens.
“Before this fantastic project began, our pupils had a limited knowledge and experience of cricket,” said Anna Davis, the Family and Community Engagement Officer, at St. Helen’s. “But over the past few months, they have developed an interest in the game and have taken part in after-school cricket practices and games with their parents and Glamorgan’s community coaches, as well as increasing their skills and keeping healthy.”
“The creation of the film helped them to develop their writing, presentation and communication skills as well as boosting their confidence and engaging the children in local history. So, all in all, this project has been a win-win for us, and we will be looking to maintain, as well as developing further, our relationship with Glamorgan County Cricket Club.”
“This is just one example of our on-going activities aimed at community engagement and opening the doors of the Stadium to a new audience,” said Mark Frost, Community Manager at Glamorgan Cricket. “The pupils and staff from St. Helen’s should be very proud of what they have achieved, with the film telling the story of the creation of the first public park in Wales and its recent metamorphosis into the sporting heart of the Welsh capital city.”
“From a cricketing perspective, it’s always great to engage with the up-coming generation of players and supporters, and we are looking to enhance our links with St. Helen’s as well as other local schools in the coming months, especially with a series of games in the ICC World Cup taking place at the Cardiff ground next summer.”