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The LBW Trust recently distributed the funds raised during the inaugural National Backyard Cricket program, held last summer to country libraries across Australia and tertiary education projects in India and Sri Lanka.
54 country libraries across Australia have received funding grants that will enable these libraries to complete projects ranging from computer access for young people to ESL classes, special needs programs and coding classes. Almost half the grant applications requested funding for technology equipment. Harvey Norman generously matched the funds raised for libraries during the National Backyard Cricket program enabling grants to meet the technology needs of 21 libraries. In total nearly $70,000 of grants will be distributed to country libraries working with our partner, Friends of Libraries Australia.
Here are three examples of the work that is being supported across Australia.
Wagga Wagga City Library in regional New South Wales was awarded $1,500 to expand its award-winning multicultural programs, particularly its Language Café. This program engages 60 community volunteers to assist new community members with conversational English classes three days per week.
Kalbarri Public Library north of Geraldton on the coast in Western Australia was badly damaged by Cyclone Seroja on the 11th of April. National Backyard Cricket granted the library $1,500 to help rebuild and fit the children’s and young adult section of the library with new shelving and display equipment.
At Australind Public Library in the Shire of Harvey in Western Australia, applied for $1,200 to purchase new computer equipment so more children can participate in their weekly coding club. Upon learning of the grant, branch manager Laine Brown wrote, “It is so wonderful to receive this grant as I know how much it will benefit our coding club kids.”
Tertiary students in India and Sri Lanka have also been the recipients of the funds raised by the National Backyard Cricket program for overseas education.
At a time when the pandemic has devastated the lives of so many in the Indian subcontinent, the support provided to the students, to support their education and relieve the pressure on their families has been invaluable.
There were 125 games of backyard cricket played during the National Backyard Cricket program, with over 320 donors helping to raise more than $125,000.
The program was supported by cricketing royalty including; Justin Langer, Alex Blackwell, Ryan Carters, Russel Arnold, Alyssa Healy, Ed Cowan and Michael Holding.
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