Cricket club rising from the ashes

GET STUCK IN: Volunteers and Groundwork staff start work

A CRICKET club which almost folded last year is getting young people involved in helping to turn its fortunes around.

Oldham Cricket Club in Broadbent Road has now become Oldham Sports and Community Club, and volunteers from Groundwork’s ‘v challenge’ project have been making it more accessible.

The club suffered a series of problems, including major vandalism, but backing from Groundwork is helping to open it up to the Derker and East Oldham communities.

Work began with a project to clear a disused rear entrance to the club, and in coming weeks the volunteers will be giving the entrance a complete makeover, with local schoolchildren designing a new sign and mural.

The regeneration project’s first stage will be marked by a family fundraising day on March 27.

Dale Ward, Groundwork’s project officer, said: “Volunteers helping the community are very inspiring, and we hope to give the local community a revived area of interest.”