Case Study: Gloucestershire County Cricket Club

Written by Kit Garrett
August 29, 2023

It’s fair to say that English cricket is in a period of upheaval and change. In the wake of the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket’s 2023 report on the accessibility and inclusivity of the sport, many County sides are coming to the realisation that much more needs to be done in order to make everyone feel at home while playing or spectating one of the great British pastimes. It’s heartening to hear, then, that some top flight sides are already ahead of the curve. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in particular made huge strides before the report was even published to bolster their offerings and broaden their inclusiveness.

Gloucestershire4All

The genesis of this push towards equity at Gloucestershire can be traced back to 2021, with the publication of their EDI Action Plan, Gloucestershire4All. This ambitious policy puts the Club at the centre of its community and places upon it the responsibility to break down barriers, enhance experiences, improve internally, support great causes and ultimately become the face of a new, more inclusive form of cricket.

In the course of executing the plan, and through careful engagement with the club’s various micro-communities, it became clear that while changes in policy and approach were always welcome, improvements at the Seat Unique stadium were needed. With a multitude of players and fans from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds, it was suggested that a multi-faith space should be installed on-site to allow members of the community to pray and quietly reflect. In addition, with a growing proportion of fans requiring access to Changing Places toilets, it was felt to be the right time to have one fitted.

First Over – RISE Steps Up to the Wicket

Gloucester CCC contracted RISE to complete two complex jobs:

Installation of a modular Changing Places toilet, plus an adjoining accessible toilet (a CP+1 module)
Installation of a large, bespoke multi-faith space in a modular pod

CP+1s are fast becoming a favourite of our clients, as they can serve multiple purposes; you could have a Changing Places plus an accessible toilet, a baby change, a gender-neutral toilet, or any other purpose you could think of. If you have a large footprint and multiple communities needing servicing, a CP+1 could be the right choice for you.

We’re Ready To Bowl You Over

Lunch – Home Side In The Lead

Modular facilities are our bread and butter at RISE, so upon receiving the Club’s order we sprang into action. Our specialist surveyors visited the location and met with the commissioning manager to discuss the necessary groundworks and drainage, while carrying out their preliminary checks for both sites. Once it was determined that the project was feasible, we started work on fabrication.

One of RISE’s core strengths is our ability to take jobs on at scale. This meant we could work on both of Gloucestershire’s orders simultaneously, reducing lead times for the Club and making sure facilities were installed at the earliest available opportunity. Both pods were designed in house by our expert drafters and signed off as fully compliant with all relevant regulations – including BS8300 for Changing Places.

Throughout the whole process, we kept in close contact with the Club. This helped to make sure they were aware of the status of their order and had the opportunity to fully customise both spaces to their exact needs and specifications, including exterior finish and interior design elements.

The construction of a fully-customised multi-faith space pod was a particular challenge for us. Our modular units are built to a set of product specifications that we’ve worked out in advance – that’s part of the reason why we’re able to turn around jobs so quickly and to such a high standard. Designing an entirely new product from the ground up was an exciting prospect; it allowed us to experiment with and strengthen our internal design and provisioning processes to make sure they’re absolutely bulletproof, while also giving us the opportunity to flex our product development muscles. The finished product is something we’re really proud of…but we won’t spoil the results! If you don’t want to know the score, look away now…

Results – Gloucestershire Win

Once both pods were constructed and onsite groundworks completed by Gloucestershire’s team, the process was quick and easy – we simply delivered them to the site, craned them in and set them onto the prepared base. After fitting out the Changing Places toilet with the statutory requirements (adult changing bed, height adjustable sink, non-slip floors, grab rails, accessible toilet, hoist and emergency alarm), installing the plumbing and waterworks in the +1 accessible toilet and hooking up the multi-faith space to utilities, we were able to hand the job straight over and get the new builds into use.

Don’t Get Caught Out!