East Midlands Railway’s (EMR) Community Fund has made a grant of nearly £5,000 to Mickleover Cricket Club in Derby to enable it to make a number of improvements to its ground.

The grant helped the club to improve its ground on Station Road in Derby. Among the improvements is a new patio area with improved access for spectators, better accessibility, and a safe place to enjoy the action as well as a new seating area. It also helped pay for new fencing to improve safety.

The patio area now provides a clean, comfortable, and safe place where parents, supporters, players, and opposition can enjoy themselves and take part in cricket, thereby improving their health, and physical and mental well-being. The club hopes the improvements will encourage new members to join so that it can enhance its presence in the community.

Mickleover Cricket Club fields four senior teams, five junior teams, and ‘All Stars’ and ‘Dynamos’ for very young children. The club’s senior section has 50 members, whilst the junior section has over 85 players aged between 6 and 17 years from the west of the city, with a large number coming from more-deprived inner-city areas.

The fund is designed to support communities and organisations along the routes that East Midlands Railway serves, and is intended to help projects that will make a difference to those who need it most. It is the first of its kind for the railway industry in the East Midlands, and is open for applications from community rail partnerships, station adoption groups, charities, community interest companies, schools, youth organisations, sports clubs, not for profits organisations, and groups such as Beavers or Guides.

To qualify for a grant from the fund, groups or organisations must operate within 15km of one of East Midlands Railway’s managed stations and meet the company’s requirements for funding. More information about the fund and details of how to apply for funding are available online at https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/community-fund

Blair Winter, Chairman of Mickleover Cricket Club, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the support we have received from East Midlands Railway.

“Supplementing EMR’s commitment with additional grant support and some match funding from ourselves, we have been able to create a welcoming, accessible space for players, officials, and spectators, benefitting all age groups of our membership. We’re really looking forward to April, the start of the season, and utilising the new space.”

Kaye Robinson, Community Engagement Manager at East Midlands Railway, said: “We were happy to support Mickleover Cricket Club through our Community Fund.

“The new seating area looks great. It will provide easy and safe access for spectators to watch the club play next year.”