With our traditional sources of grants and prospective corporate sponsorships having diminished significantly in number over the past 12-18 months because of the 'credit crunch' and - cricket not being an Olympic Sport - the increasing budget shortfall funding demands of the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games, the Trustees have decided to initiate a nationwide campaign seeking, inviting, persuading and convincing individuals, companies and other (corporate) organisations to support the work of the International Community Cricket Trust (ICCT) - UK registered charity No: 1119716 - through either:

becoming a registered private or corporate Benefactor of the Trust committing to a minimum annual donation of £5,000 for each of the next 3 years, 2010 - 2012, and/or making a lump sum legacy bequest to ICCT in your Will (full details available on request);

becoming a registered private or corporate Patron of the Trust committing to a minimum annual donation of £1,500 for each of the next 3 years, 2010 - 2012, (full details available on request);

becoming a registered Friend of the Trust making regular donations via 'Gift Aid', the government scheme approved by H.M.Revenue & Customs to encourage individuals and businesses to donate more money to charity. (www.hmrc.gov.uk/charities) Under this scheme, ICCT is able to claim back the basic rate tax already paid on gifts of money received from individuals who pay, or who have paid, UK tax. It also allows UK companies to make gifts of money to International Community Cricket Trust before any tax is deducted 'Gift Aid It' Form;

becoming a registered Friend of the Trust through 'Give as You Earn', otherwise known as payroll giving. Payroll giving schemes run by your employer differ from Gift Aid in that employees who choose to donate to ICCT through the scheme benefit from full income tax relief on their donations; whereas with Gift Aid it is ICCT that gets tax relief at the basic rate. This means that each £1 you give will cost you only 80p; or, 62p if you are a higher rate taxpayer. And there are no minimum or maximum amounts. Payroll giving works well for all, but particularly for higher rate taxpayers. For its part, ICCT will receive the whole donation and you will not have to claim back the additional tax separately; so the money can get to work sooner (www.hmrc.gov.uk/payrollgiving).

becoming a registered Friend of the Trust through donating shares to us via Sharegift. ShareGift is a charity that accepts shareholdings, no matter how small , sells them on your behalf and gives the money to the charity - or charities - you select, e.g. ICCT. Founded by Viscountess Mackintosh of Halifax and Matthew Orr of stockbrokers Killick & Co, there is no charge for this service. If you are a UK taxpayer, you can claim income tax relief on the value of quoted stocks and securities when you donate them to a charity. In addition, donating the profits from Sharegift's sale of your shares does not give rise to either a gain or a loss consideration for Capital Gains Tax (CGT) purposes (www.sharegift.org).

Each supporter of ICCT in each of the categories above will receive a framed 'Thank You' Certificate and be named - unless they request specifically not to be included - on the Trust's website Role of Supporters. Each will receive also regular updates and progress reports on the consortium's activities. For Benefactors and Patrons, there are additional benefits and quid pro quos offered that are discussed individually.

Throughout the United Kingdom, community cricket in general, but rank and file, 'grass roots' community cricket clubs in particular, desperately need the comprehensive range of not-for-profit support services, facilities and additional resources that our International Community Cricket Trust-led Consortium is starting to phase-in and intends to develop to cover all parts of the country over the next 3 years (2010-2012).

We, in turn, urgently need YOUR support to help us succeed in fulfilling the necessarily challenging, time-tabled, support programmes and targets we have set ourselves.

To confirm your support under any of the above categories of membership, and to obtain copies of the relevant Application and/or Declaration Forms, please either write to:

Naval J Heeramaneck, FCA, CTA
Finance Trustee
International Community Cricket Trust,
8th Floor, Tolworth Tower
Ewell Road
Surbiton
Surrey
KT6 7EL

Or email him on: info@communitycricket.org.uk

Alternatively, for more information to help you decide if - and/or under which category - you would like to support us, please contact:

Jeanne Wilson, Company & Trust Secretary, either by:

Phone: +44 (0) 1737 218178,
or Email: commcricktrust@btinternet.com

Thank you!