Report of LCCA fact finding trip to Barbados 24.10.02 - 29.10.02 by Andy Sellins

In preparation for the coaching sessions and development programme scheduled for March 15 to March 24 2003 England Blind Cricket Coach Andy Sellins and England blind cricketer Tim Guttridge made an initial trip to the island to meet key partners in the development programme.

The trip was more successful than anticipated. Media interest was massive with interviews conducted on TV, radio and in newspapers. Twelve were undertaken in total.

People recognised both the England representatives in the street following the television appearance alongside West Indian cricket legend Desmond Haynes which was broadcast across the Caribbean on Good Morning Barbados.

Public response was overwhelmingly supportive and immense interest was shown in the concept of people with a visual impairment playing sport - especially cricket the passion of the islands.

This was reflected in the final media event of the trip - a radio phone-in where callers were fascinated to hear how the game was actually played and the opportunities it opened up for disabled people, often very restricted in their live choices in the Caribbean. Callers were also very interested in Tim's life as a blind person in the UK and the opportunities he had found to lead a full and active life.

Successful meetings were also staged with Wes Hall, former test player and now President of the West Indies Cricket Board of Control.

He was quickly enthused by the whole concept and understood the social significance of visually impaired people playing the national sport - to such an extent that they he vowed to promote the issue at the next top level meeting of the governing body.

Further support was gained from the Barbados Cricket Board, Barbados Council for People with Disability and Ministry of Social Transformation.

Government support for the pioneering initiative came following a meeting with the Minister of Sport and sponsors including the island's largest employer Banks Breweries also guaranteed to back the plan.

The programme is now confirmed with the following elements:

*A comprehensive media campaign to develop awareness of disabled issues and sporting opportunities for disabled people.

*A coach education and awareness course for sighted cricket coaches.

*A training course for officials and administrators from within the sighted game aimed at sharing best practice when working with people with a visual impairment.

*A training course for people working with visually impaired people on how to set up and run sustainable development programmes.

*A coaching course for young players.

*A coaching course for adult players.

*An exhibition match between the England Blind Cricket team and the first ever West Indies Blind Cricket team which we will set up while we are there.

*A televised exhibition match between Desmond Haynes' Celebrity Cricket Team (made up of current and former West Indies players and other Bajan celebrities) and the England Blind Cricket Team which has just returned from coming third in the Blind Cricket World Cup in India.

The West Indies were the only test playing team not to enter a team for the Blind Cricket World Cup and we hope that this initiative will ensure that by the next world cup in 2006 they too will be present. Perhaps more importantly however are the educational and awareness benefits that this very well publicised event will bring.

The programme is being organised by a London based charity, the London Community Cricket Association (charity number 1046047), who were instrumental in setting up the England Blind team. They are working with the backing of Sport England, British Blind Sport and the England and Wales Cricket Board to ensure this event is very successful and the effects of it long lasting.

The LCCA have been using cricket as a vehicle for developing individuals and communities for nearly twenty years. Among their many projects they run the largest programme in the country for children with special needs working with over fifty groups a year and are recognised by Sport England and the England and Wales Cricket Board as experts in the field of disability sport.

This initiative is supported by many sponsors, who we thank for their help and support.

Prepared by Andy Sellins - LCCA Development Director and Coach to the England Blind Cricket Team

LCCA address - PO Box 17, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8YA. Tel: 0208 669 2177