BBF development fund awards £6490 to three clubs
The BBF Development Committee has awarded three grants to clubs as part of the Development Fund Grant.
The Grant that is designed to support National Governing Body affiliated clubs facilitate development initiatives that align with the BBF 2035 Our Future document
The Greenwich Giants, Birmingham Baseball Club and Cornish Claycutters were successful in their bids receiving a combined £6490 from the fund.
Greenwich Giants Baseball Club
Greenwich Giants grant will be put towards junior development and the creation of a local in-house league focused on U10 and U12 age groups.
“The Greenwich Giants Baseball Club are extremely honoured and appreciative of the development grant from the British Baseball Federation,” said Club Chair and Head Coach Will Lintern. “Our vision is to serve as a hub for baseball activity across South East London. This grant will help us to achieve our main objective of inspiring more children to take up baseball,” continued Lintern.
“We will also build a local league in southeast London, and encourage women and girls to pick up a bat and glove for the first time. We are most grateful for the BBF Board's belief in our mission and vision for baseball in Southeast London.”
Henna Roberts, Club Secretary and member of the Women's team had this to say about the addition of the Women and Girls programme "I’m excited the Greenwich Giants will be able to offer a different team sport for local women and girls to try. Our club is friendly and encouraging. This grant means we can share baseball, and our club ethos, further into the local community."
Cornish Piskies
The Cornish Claycutters will put funding towards on site storage and equipment to support their expanding youth programme, The Cornish Piskies.
“This money will be a transformational investment to Cornish Claycutters Baseball Club’s youth scheme” said club equipment manager, Phil Gilbert “as well as being of wider positive impact to our baseball club. Our club is deeply grateful for this approval. A big 'thanks' to you the BBF.”
Birmingham Baseball Club
Birmingham will utilise their grant funding to build a second diamond as the Midlands based club continues its growth and development of youth baseball.
Said Bayan, Birmingham's Youth Programme Lead said “We’re incredibly grateful to the BBF for awarding us the Development Grant, which will be a game-changer for our club. Having a second diamond means we’ll no longer be restricted by limited space as our numbers continue to grow.”
The initiative will accommodate their growing membership as well as offering a home for their new youth team, the Birmingham Goats.
“The youth team launched in 2024 and has been an incredible success, with over 30 kids taking part in its first year. We expect that number to grow significantly in the years ahead, and this second diamond will give them a dedicated space to practice and play their games, helping us nurture the next generation of baseball players. This is a huge step forward for the club, and we can’t wait to see the impact it has on our community.”
The Development Fund was launched in 2024 with money received following the successful participation of the Great Britain National Team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Keen to reinvest these funds in British Baseball, the BBF have, to date, awarded over £11,000 to clubs to help facilitate their development initiatives.
Of the latest round of funding, BBF Development Grant Committee chair, Lee Manning, said “It’s fantastic that these latest developments grants have been award to clubs with a strong commitment to developing youth baseball in their regions.”
We look forward to updating the British Baseball community on the progress of the projects in Birmingham, Greenwich and Cornwall over the next 12 months.
For more information on the Development Fund and how your club can apply follow this link
