In our society the phrase Big Shot refers to important people, with money, power and a strong social status. Paul Baker, an ECB coach in Hertfordshire is putting a new spin on the term with his latest project and he needs your help.

In October 2007 Paul is taking a team out to some villages outside Kolkata, India to teach cricket to children who would not normally get the chance to have top quality input from qualified coaches.

Children will go on a cricket camp. Over the 2-3 days various sessions will be held and then on the last day the local community will be invited to come and watch their children play in Kwik Cricket matches. This helps to cement the impact on the local community.

Paul outlines the benefits of Big Shot Cricket:

"The people that we work with are going to be given a sense of purpose, value. It installs confidence and self-belief in the people we work with and will also provide educational opportunities too through projects and participation.

"The type of person that we will work with is the complete opposite of a 'big shot'. What we are trying to say through cricket is that they are important, special, and have value and that they have a chance in life."

Big Shot Cricket will also help raise money for various projects that will help local villages and communities. For example linking up with a village that only has half of a school built to help finish the other half.

Coaches that come will be funding their own way and the whole project is non-profit.

How you can help

This is a worthy cause on a number of levels and for the coaches it will be a unique experience.

Can you contribute?

• Kwik Cricket Sets and other basic cricket coaching equipment
• Funding for cricket clothing, food and water for the children at the camps
• Joining up as a coach
• Advice or local knowledge

Big Shot Cricket has a huge potential to reach out to people in countries and communities that would not normally get the chance to play and experience cricket. Whatever help you can give will be much appreciated, however small, for example £5 would cover one child's expenses for the camp.

Please get in touch with me in the normal way or visit www.myspace.com/pablobaker and do what you can to help.