The programme (proudly run in partnership between The Dallaglio Foundation and Cricket for Change) which uses rugby as an engagement tool for disadvantaged young people, starts in Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle as part of an expansion that will reach 10 cities by 2015. 

"Our national partners are chosen as they too believe in empowering and equipping young people by giving them the means and inspiration to change their lives for the better through rugby," said Dallaglio Foundation CEO, Rachel Roxburgh.

The delivery partners are: Leeds Rugby Foundation; Positive Futures, Liverpool; and Northumberland Clubs for Young People, based in Newcastle. All bring considerable experience in the field of youth engagement.

“We are delighted to be hosting the launch and first training sessions and to be joining the Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change Programme,” Leeds Rugby Foundation CEO, Lucy Owen said.  “Leeds Rugby Foundation is always looking for new ways to engage with young people in our community so it is great to be part of a project that is having such fantastic results in London and to have the opportunity to deliver those positive outcomes for youngsters across Leeds and Yorkshire.”

"We're very proud that after just a year we are reaching out to even more young people nationally," said England and Lions star Lawrence Dallaglio. "I'm certain that the success we've had in London will be replicated by our excellent new partners."

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Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change – www.dallagliofoundationrugbyforchange.com  - Programme Partner
To mentor, inspire and motivate at risk young people onto a positive journey using the values of rugby. The Dallaglio Foundation is partnering with the RFU as part of the Union’s Social Responsibility programme. The RFU values the opportunity to work with the Foundation in order to extend the RFU’s work into communities and areas that it wouldn’t otherwise reach. The purpose of the partnership is to use rugby and its core values to empower individuals for wider societal gain.

Cricket for Change - Programme Partner
C4C have been using sport to change young lives since 1981, developing pioneering projects aimed at disadvantaged young people. C4C believes passionately in giving a voice to the young people on its programmes and involving them in their design and development.  This helps raise confidence and self-esteem which leads to the growth of independence, a positive mindset, the development of life skills and greater employability of young people.

National Delivery Partners

Leeds Rugby Foundation, Leeds
Leeds Rugby Foundation is Leeds Rugby’s charity that delivers projects in the heart of the community.  Harnessing the power of sport to make a lasting, positive impact on individuals’ lives.  As Leeds Rugby’s charity we have an amazing opportunity to change lives through sport.

Northumberland Clubs for Young People, Newcastle
To provide our membership with relevant information, advice and support to empower them to provide a high quality and diverse programme of positive activities for young people.

Positive Futures, Liverpool
We seek to enable disadvantaged young people to achieve their full potential through a delivery framework defined as the "5 E's". These are: Engagement and Education, Empowerment, Environment, Enterprise.

To be a part of the International Olympic Committee’s key advocacy initiatives in the field of Sport for All shows the strength, expereince and influence of C4C's work.

Organised every two years, the Conference has, since its creation, been dedicated to promoting the broad dissemination of the Sport for All philosophy, globally. It supports the promotion of health, fitness and well-being, and aims at encouraging more people of all ages and abilities to participate in sports activities and experience the Olympic values.

The conference is a platform for sharing experiences and best practices by the various Olympic family constituents, sports organisations, Sport for All bodies, the academic world and institutional partners.

Three themes were addressed during the Conference: Social Benefit, Sports Facilities & Public Spaces and Partnerships, with Andy Sellins sharing (in front on IOC President, Jacques Rogge) C4C's knowledge and expertise on delivering real social impact through sport.

Follow this link for more about the conference

The Team Tufnell project will engage with young disabled people, providing them with the opportunity to gain a sports coaching qualification and be part of the charity’s development team. This project builds on the charity’s previous ‘Hit the Top’ programme, extending it to include more work focused training and work placements.

Phil Tufnell, President of Cricket for Change said: “We welcome the funding from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales.  Disabled young people are twice as likely not to be in any form of education, employment or training as their non disabled peers. Cricket for Change’s Team Tufnell project addresses this issue by enabling young  people to have increased self-belief, access to training and the ability to have a greater role in the decision making processes that affect their lives.”

Sara Cooney, Grant Manager for South Central and London at the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales said: “The Foundation is proud to support Cricket for Change’s Team Tufnell project which gives young disabled people the opportunity to increase their self-esteem and play a role in their community. Cricket for Change is an example of one of the many charities the Lloyds TSB Foundation invests in to help improve the life choices and chances for disadvantaged young people.”

The Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales supports charities that help disadvantaged people to play a fuller role in the community. Local or regional charities with an income up to £1million and national charities with an income up to £5 million can find out more about the funding criteria and grant programmes at www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk

Cricket for Change are also grateful to Children In Need for their support of Team Tufnell.

The C4C trio on this short but productive trip included experienced and talented coaches, Danny Baker and Beth Evans along with overseas development trip debutant, Alasdair Ramsay. The trip was split into two parts with the first being in India's capital, New Delhi and the second involving a visit to Bangalore.

In Delhi, the C4C team ran a two day 'workshop' in the Noida area of the city, with a fantastic group of 18 Magic Bus Community Volunteers including 5 Training and Managing Officers. The two days involved some classroom work along with plenty of outdoor led sessions and activities. Over the two days there were numerous discussions about how to further engage with the young people they have in their sessions as well as learning about how the experiences of the volunteers and how they feel best to take things forward.  

C4C have the skills and experience to facilitate programme growth and development but ultimately it is the people on the ground (in a particular country) that have to deliver and it must be right for them.

(Click on all the images to see more pictures from the trip)

For the outdoor activities, space was limited but it was a good example of the sort of areas that most, if not all, of the Magic Bus community sessions take place within. The two days in Delhi also included visits to two community based sessions, where the C4C staff had the chance to see the Magic Bus volunteers in action (and make use of some of the new skills the volunteers had learned over the 2 days).  Each event was well attended by very excited, welcoming and happy children.  

At the end of second community visit in East Delhi, the C4C trio were invited to have some 'chai' tea at the home of one of the Magic Bus volunteers near to the community session they run.  The C4C team were naturally very warmly welcomed into the volunteers homes and had a great time along with having the best 'chai' in India!

After leaving Delhi, the C4C team made the short flight down to Bengaluru in southern India.  The team weren't running any sessions here but had the chance to meet the Magic Bus Bangalore team in their new offices and discuss the possibilities of developing a programme looking to increase female participation amongst and in the community sessions run in parts of Bangalore.

The C4C guys visited a couple of volunteer run community sessions in Banglore, which included a visit to a school where regular sessions are organised. This visit in particular highlighted the desire of local schools to want to be involved but that there needed to be long term plan and objective that gave the children a positive activity led hook to want to return week after week.

The three C4C staff were also shown the homes and community of a two of the Magic Bus volunteers in which again they were warmly welcomed into.

As is always the case, C4C had a very positive time in India and are extremely proud to be partners with such a progressive and groundbreaking charity in Magic Bus along with the family of friendly and energetic staff and volunteers.  The programme promises to go from strength to strength, including looking at a UK/India Coaches exchange programme, more sharing of best practices and youth work and engagement games and plans for greater inclusion of girls and disability cricket activities.

Footnote by Alasdair Ramsay - Incredible India
The excitement of being a part of a development trip to a country that I have always wanted to visit can sometimes overshadow the true nature of why C4C are working on development programmes such as the one with Magic Bus India. There can sometimes be more of a focus on the after trip report or write up and the person doing the report than the importance of the work. That's not a bad thing as exposure to different places and their people can have a profound and positive impact upon one's life.

However, with this in mind, whilst I was there, I wrote a number of blogs that detailed my thoughts and activity from each day we spent working with and getting to know wonderful people, their activities and communities.

I will leave it up to you to view each one by clicking on the following links:

(1)    Should I take my Hoody?    (2) Same but Different   (3) The Pride of Delhi  (4)    New Beginnings in Bengaluru (5) Incredible India

The first few stages of the project brought together Jewish and Bedouin children in the Negev area and then going on to include Palestinian youth from the West Bank, a project currently being coordinated with the Peres Center for Peace - Cricket4Peace.  Stage 1 of this programme was so successful that it won a UNICEF/USAID/ICC worldwide award for ‘Best Spirit of Cricket’ initiative. The ICA is.  

More recently however, through the success of the Cross Border project and the involvement of a joint ICC Europe and Flicx Pitch competition,‘How cricket has changed my life’, this wonderful story of 16yr old Shehadeh Salamin came to light.

It’s a great story with a worthy winner of the competition.

“I’m from Al - Samoa. All my life, I dreamt of being a famous Palestinian footballer, until our village was introduced to cricket.  The game rapidly became our flagship sport, with most kids preferring cricket over soccer!

I soon found that the more I played, the better I became. But to progress to the next level, we needed more cricketers. Someone proposed holding joint activities with Israeli kids. I must admit, I had concerns. However, when we reached Beersheba, the Israeli coach, George (Sheader), greeted us with kindness. His warm words broke the barrier of fear in me. I thought to myself 'I like to play cricket, just like Israeli children. So it would be fun to play together.'

We played in mixed teams with the Israelis and I enjoyed it! We had amazing collaboration. The head coach said to me in Arabic: 'Bravo, you are a great player'. I felt very proud and our next practice couldn?t come too soon. Cricket has given me a new lease of life. Now I am a more confident person with a real desire to continue improving my game. And my dreams have changed too.

Today I dream of a cricket club in Palestine and of becoming the first Palestinian cricketer to play in an international league. I'm sure that with those Israeli and Palestinian children who participated with me, we can also realize the dream of peace together.  When holding a cricket bat, I feel I hold the whole world."

It is fantastic to see and hear about the continuing positive impact of a project that C4C had been involved from the outset.

Sources:  Flicx Pitch Word Press.com and ICC Europe websites

                    Shesadeh Salamin on the right with his new friend from Israel

Daniel Mynott, one the young people who has benefitted from being a huge part of the programme and is now a C4C Development Coach, said last night, "If I can give one bit of advice to the young people here tonight it is, don't believe people that say you can't do something you want to do. I’ve had that all of my life and now I say to them all look at me now, they said I couldn't do what I wanted to do in life but I have. If I didn't I wouldn't be here now (telling you all about it). So don't let people say you can't do something because you can. You can travel on your own, you can live on your own, you can play cricket, you can do what you want to with your life, you can achieve anything you want to.”

Tom Brake MP said, “Cricket for Change is a celebration of sports and an opportunity for disadvantaged young people to boost their confidence and make friends. It is clear that this charity has the real potential to change lives. I am happy to be associated with such a worthy charity”.

Andy Dalby-Welsh, C4C Director of Operations and Hit the Top founder said:“It was an amazing evening, one that will live long in the memory as it was all about the outstanding acknowledging the successes of the young people and those who support them. They fully deserved their night of celebration and showed that this is just the first step of their journey into fulfilling their hopes, dreams and aspirations”.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson commented, “This is an incredible achievement by Hit the Top to work with so many young people through cricket.  I am delighted that this wonderful charity has benefited from my sports programme funding and that its fantastic achievements were celebrated here at City Hall.  This is a great example of how London’s Games are creating a living legacy by getting many more people involved in sport.”



Since 2011, Cricket for Change has benefited from funding through The Mayor of London’s Sports Participation Fund and Cricket for Change have been working in partnership towards creating a Paralympic legacy where the C4C coaches delivered the following outcomes: Over 6000 young Londoners with a disability have been engaged in the programme and there is now a HTT club set up in every borough of London (32 clubs); over 4000 young Londoners with a disability have now become active in a sport or physical activity outside of their school PE sessions; worked on and developed engaging coaching sessions with over 100 special schools around London; hosted and designed over 100 competition festivals and events to raise awareness of opportunities available for disabled young Londoners and 28 HTT participants have gained an Accredited coaching qualification and now coach or mentor in the programme.

2013 Hit the Top Award Winners were:

Club of the Year - Harold Wood
County Team of the Year - Middlesex VI
Volunteer of the Year - Val Harnett and Julie Whitear of West Lea School VI
Essence of HTT Award - Lois Turner and Teniola Abidemi
Best Cricketing Moment Award - Bradley Donovan (Essex MLD)
Fantasy XI of the Year - Daniel Shipton (Chessington Club) / Romahn Gayle (Brent Knoll School) / Tayler Young (Surrey BACD 1st XI) / Bella Heller (Hackney Club) / Annie Ellis (Corbets Tey School)  / Robin Byfield (Lark Hall School) / Jamila Khatun (Beatrice Tate School) / Aaron Browne (West Lea MLD) / Jamie Paterson (Hackney Club)  / Adam Hillingworth (Hackey Club) / Cameron Fontaine (Phoenix School)
Coach of the Year Award - James Wischhusen (C4C)

The HTT programme is also on the official shortlist for the BT Sport Industry Awards 2013

Gather together your work colleagues or friends to make up a team of 8 for £600 (or £75 individually) which includes a curry buffet and wine or beer.

To register your interest and book a team for the quiz, please contact our Fundraising Manager, Megan Jones on meganjones@cricketforchange.org.uk 

At this event we are also excited to be launching 'Team Tufnell', an innovative training programme for young people with disabilities that will seek to lead them to improved employment opportunities.

Funds raised on the evening will help support the ongoing work of Cricket for Change in unlocking young people's potential through helping raise their confidence and self-esteem which leads to the growth of independence, a positive mindset, the development of life skills and greater employability opportunities. 

We look forward to seeing you there and thank you for your continued support.

The standard of rugby was high. Every team looked to pass and move the defence, and there were some notably beautiful plays from the French side: sadly, like their international counterparts, the Sutton club players couldn’t transform sporadic brilliance into match-winning grit.

Elsewhere, rugby’s proud tradition of physical contest went a bit far, and the Irish and Italian match was the ugly opposite of the French flair. Yet, as Mike (Henderson – DFRFC Development Coach) commented, it was an explosive incident that became the day’s biggest success:

“The incident had the potential to stop the competition all together, but after calming both parties down and resolving the conflict, they went from wanting to kill each other to a handshake. It just goes to show: rugby can educate, and will educate!”

With DJ Davey Diamond keeping the tempo up, after an amazing lunch the teams took a break to record a Harlem Shake video, led by Lawrence Dallaglio himself. Not many of the adults knew what was going on – least of all Lawrence – but it is nevertheless a masterpiece – CHECK OUT THE MOVES BELOW!

In time, the finals arrived, and the big clash was between the Welsh (Newham) and the Italians (Agincourt and Sutton). Before kick-off both teams had a great, intensive session on planning and achieving their goals, assisted by Perry (Sophocleous - DFRFC Development Coach), DFRFC board member Jeff Dodds and Lawrence.

Inspired and suitably motivated, the sides met in an epic battle, and Italy coach Ben (Clayton – DFRFC Development Coach) masterminded a close-fought victory mainly by jumping up and down on the sidelines like a lunatic.

The ‘Player of the Tournament’ award was presented to a player who is most committed and involved and who can be passionate without compromising fair play. This time round it was won by Israel Cawson, 15, from Footsteps. Israel travelled on his own, all the way from Tottenham, and then found that none of his schoolmates had actually turned up. Undeterred, he shook hands, made friends and played hard: rugby - the way it should be. And though Israel was trying to play it cool, you could tell he was really proud.

(DFRFC is as a partnership programme between The Dallglio Foundation and Cricket for Change)

                                                            CHAMPIONS - ITALY 

Andy Dalby-Welsh, C4C Director of Operations and Hit the Top founder said: "This is fabulous news and we are very proud to have been nominated. The strength of Hit the top is that it gives young people with a physical, visual or learning disability independence, confidence and new friendships through cricket."

With entries up by more than 30% on last year’s previous record, winning a place on the prestigious shortlist has been harder than ever before, and an unprecedented quality of work has been the result. Following a rigorous steering process involving 45 key figures from across the industry and more than 50 hours of intensive judging – fully overseen by Deloitte, the Official Independent Scrutineer of the Sport Industry Awards, to ensure absolute transparency and impartiality – the list of nominees represents the best the industry had to offer in 2012.

Nick Keller, Chairman of the Sport Industry Group, commented: “2012 marked a remarkable year for sport in the UK, with London at the heart of it. Being named on the Official Shortlist for the Sport Industry Awards is definitive proof that a team, brand or organisation's work has been amongst the very best in its field across an entire year.”

The Shortlist will now go forward for consideration by the main Judging Panel, who will decide the winners in each category. The results will be announced at the star-studded Sport Industry Awards ceremony on Wednesday, 2nd May 2013.

For the full Sport Industry Awards 2013 Official Shortlist, visit www.sportindustry.biz

‘Street 20 Europe’ – launched in London - is based on the popular Twenty20 format of the game and will help to increase cricket participation to non-traditional groups in countries where the game is still developing. As a clear strategic goal of the ICC, this modified version of cricket is a great step forward to enable more people to play the game.

It is believed that the project which also centres around social inclusion will break down racial, religious, social and economic barriers by introducing cricket to inner-city communities.

Representatives of six ICC Europe members – Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain – will take part in a three-day ‘Street 20’ training course hosted by ICC Europe and Cricket for Change.

Nick Pink, Regional Development Manager for ICC Europe, says: “Sport has the power to change lives, and our aim with the ‘Street 20’ project is to take cricket to disadvantaged communities which may never have experienced the game before, and give young people the opportunity to better themselves by taking part in a positive activity that promotes good teamwork.

“Our training programme taking place at Cricket for Change will equip ‘Street 20’ leaders from six ICC Europe member countries with the skills and the tools they need to deliver this exciting project – and help to increase participation in this great game throughout the continent where the game is still developing.”

‘Street 20’ is a mixed-gender programme which will ultimately look to establish and develop cricket leagues and competitions which are open to all sections of the community in participating countries.

Cricket for Change and ICC Europe have jointly developed and will deliver the structured, activity-based training programme which promotes togetherness and teamwork while focusing on practical ways to put the ‘Street 20’ project into action.

Andy Sellins, CEO of Cricket for Change, says “We have run similar Street 20 development programmes in Israel and Palestine, Jamaica and Afghanistan and they have been very successful in bringing together young people from different ethnic, religious and social and economic backgrounds to work positively together.”

ICC Europe is one of five ICC regional offices across the world, and operates a programme comprising 12 Associate and 18 Affiliate member countries as well as other Prospective member countries. The programme aims to raise awareness; improve playing standards; increase playing numbers and quality with the emphasis youth development, to ensure sustainable growth of the game.

The touring party consisted of some well decorated past England blind cricket players who had represented the charity a decade ago, but also included a number of young people with ‘real’ aspirations of playing for their country in the future. In addition, we brought along a support team of 4 which included our Chief Executive and head coach of the trip, Andy Sellins.

As the tour party arrived, there was a stark contrast between the beloved UK climate and the beautiful Caribbean sunshine. For some of our young people it was their first time travelling by plane let alone experiencing the sort of heat that hits you upon stepping out of it.

The trip was not just about cricket but about the young people being independent, increasing their friendship networks, learning about leadership, roles and responsibilities, having the opportunity to visit somewhere that may not have been available to them otherwise and above all to have fun.

The squad also played a key role in highlighting and raising the awareness of blind cricket and disability sport in general and contribute to the youth development of Barbados Blind cricket. This included a blind cricket promotional evening after the game against the Barbados team and a visit to Irving Wilson School in St Michael, which provides education for young people aged 5 – 18, who have a disability, some of whom are visually impaired.

As is customary on international cricket tours, the C4C squad were also guests at the British High Commission for an evening reception hosted by the Commissioner himself. In attendance were many dignitaries and famous faces from the Bajan political and cricketing world including Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes and the Barbados Senator, Kerryann Ifill.

It was an opportunity for the young people on the tour to experience what it is like to network at an event with so many people wanting to know all about what they do and how they do it. Ryan Jones, an incredibly inspirational young man in our party made a wonderful speech at the reception explaining what blind cricket has done for him so far and how he got involved with Cricket for Change. Ryan is a true role model to the rest of the group and they learned a lot from him throughout the tour.

In terms of playing time there were games against; a classy ‘Barbados Blind Cricket’ team (many of whom had just returned from West Indies international duty in the 20/20 Blind World Cup in India); a local side called the ‘Eastern Lions’ and played under lights - some members of the squad were intrigued as to how much the lights would affect their vision in the game; and the final game of the tour was held at the prestigious test ground, ‘The Kensington Oval’ in Bridgetown.  A sweet victory for the visitors came against a star studded combined ‘West Indies/England XI’ which included the West Indian legends of Gordon Greenidge and Joel Garner.

We’d like to thank Dial A Flight for their support, without its contribution and kindness we couldn’t have made this dream a reality for the young visually impaired people that we work with so very closely.

• Congratulations to the Waltham Foresters who, after seeing off teams from 6 other UK cities, were crowned 'National Street Cricket Champions' at a national StreetChance compeition in Birmingham on the 21st February. 
  
  StreetChance Waltham Forest and C4C coach, Donovan Miller said: “I’m really proud of my boys for doing so well. They gave each game their all and saw off some very tough competition. This is the first time they’ve won, so as you can imagine, they’re over the moon".

• Two representatives from UNICEF recently came to visit a Street20 Community session at Broadwater Farm (part of C4C's partnership with the StreetChance Estates programme). Hannah Ewing Salma from UNICEF Egypt, played Street 20 with 15 young people and exchanged some amazing conversations with the young people about the work they do in Egypt and the kinds of young people out there. 
• As part of the Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change Programme, The Dallaglio Foundation's CEO, Rachel Roxburgh, came to visit 'Footsteps', one of the DFRFC Pupil Referral Units. Rachel got to meet some of the young people, many of whom attended the DFRFC programme's half term 'Street 6 Nations' competition at Blackheath RFC training ground.

• Following on from the success of Girls Disability Sport Day at Lord's in January, C4C's Beth Evans was invited to The Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation annual conference (Feb.26th), 'Fit 4 Women' to do a Q&A in a 'Best Practice Forum' and discussing disability in sport for women.

The evening will be deserved recoginition for all the people that have been involved in an amazing first year of the DFRFC programme (an intiative between The Dallaglio Foundation and Cricket for Change). The '8' awards are classified as follows (a total of 8 being in line with Lawrence Dallaglio's playing position): 

1. DFR4C School of the year

This award recognises the collaboration between the programme and the school, demonstrating a genuine partnership approach to teaching and coaching our young people.

2. DFR4C Club of the year

This award focuses on the core values of rugby; Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship. The DFR4C Club environment encourages young people to aspire to be the best they can be through the core values of rugby.

3. DFR4C Best Team Performance of the year

This award signifies an outstanding moment where the true meaning of teamwork is encapsulated. The best team performance will highlight times in the programme that a group of DFR4C young people have united to perform and achieve together.

4. DFR4C Coach of the year 

This award celebrates the work of the DFR4C development team. It will congratulate one of the team on their commitment, inspiration and passion for the programme and the young people. The award is voted by peers (Management and Development Teams).

5. DFR4C Teacher of the year

The most influential work that takes place in the programme is not while playing or teaching rugby but the constant support and engagement off the pitch. This award reminds us that work within Pupil Referral Units takes an immense amount of one to one engagement. Along with the coaches the support of the teachers is essential for a productive session. The teacher has been a regular and encouraging part of the partnership and has become part of the DFR4C Development itself.

6. DFR4C Most improved young person of the year

This award recognises the overall improvements of an individual on the programme. Everything from improvement of attitude, improvement in engagement to improvement in rugby skills; all are considered in this award. The most significant thing to note is the change in the young person and the development of potential future prospects due to this change.

7. DFR4C Young Leader of the year

This award is a demonstration of leadership skills. The young person has taken responsibility for his/her actions during the programme resulting in a positive contribution. It is someone that has opted to “go the extra mile” for themselves, their club or their friends and has shown skills in taking responsibility.

8. The Lawrence Dallaglio Special Achievement Award

This is a prestigious award that will be given to a young person that has had a significant “Journey” on the programme. Like Lawrence they have worked hard, shown they can overcome adversity and not let their environment or influences stop them achieving. The young person has had long term engagement with the coaches and the sessions. They have:

• Developed a skill during the programme (sporting or non sporting) 
• Grown as a person by taking responsibility 
• Demonstrated compassion for his/her peers, teachers, family, friends
• Started setting goals and making changes in their life
• Shown a passion and desire to drive to a positive future

For more information about the Awards and DFRFC, then please contact Navjeet Sira on 020 8667 2177 or e-mail, najveet.sira@cricketforchange.org.uk

The tour organised by the sports charity, Cricket for Change (C4C), will see the 'England Cricket for Change  All Stars’ Visually Impaired (VI) team, sponsored by Dial-A-Flight, depart on 10 day tour of Barbados to play in a blind cricket series, which will also mark the 10th anniversary of when the charity first went to Barbados to help set up The West Indies Blind Cricket Team. The visit will also include a re-staging of a match against a Desmond Haynes Celebrity XI made up of past and present West Indies players.

As well as playing matches, the week long programme will involve the young squad co-ordinate and run training programme for local coaches and young blind players. For most of these young players, the tour will be their first time away from their parents and family. It is a huge positive milestone in their journey of growing in self confidence and self esteem.   The players have been a part of the charity’s Hit the Top disability cricket programme which also forms part of the charity’s vision in creating a ‘Paralympic’ legacy.

Two members of the squad, Marcus Kipling, 18 and James Millard, 16, are both looking forward to the experience. “I’m really excited”, said Marcus, “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, bring it on”.  James (Millard), who has designs on playing for England, said, “I'm thoroughly looking forward to the trip and I hope it will enhance me as a person and player even further as I look to play for England in the near future”.

The tour will be led by Andy Dalby-Welsh, C4C Director of Operations and Si Ledwith, C4C Programme Manager, both former England Blind cricket internationals.

Andy Dalby-Welsh, says, "I can't wait to go back to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Blind Cricket reaching Barbados and the Caribbean.  Blind Cricket has done so much for me and I loved being a member of the England team. Since our first visit the West Indies have taken part in two global competitions. What an amazing achievement for them in such a short space of time. It is going to be a fantastic opportunity for young visually impaired players we are taking to celebrate the West Indies achievements."

Si (Ledwith) adds, 'Tours like this help so much to develop young players and they certainly helped me both mentally and physically when I started my international journey.'

This return trip is made feasible through the generosity of Dial-A-Flight who have been very supportive of C4C and its overseas development work.  C4C would like to take the opportunity to thank Dial-A-Flight for their fantastic support because without it this tour would not be possible.

The event held at The MCC Indoor School at Lord’s Cricket Ground, was in support of the increase in exposure of disabled sportswomen brought about by the London Paralympic Games. Around 150 girls and young women attending from 17 different schools across London.  

Charlotte said, “It’s fantastic to see so many girls playing cricket who may never have had the opportunity. I’m a little overwhelmed by it; to see so many girls with a disability at the home of cricket involved and enjoying themselves.”

There was an exciting mix of skill sessions and mini-games which everyone got involved in. Although the day had a focus on cricket there were other sports on show, including athletics, delivered by England Athletics.

The day proved to be a great success in providing the opportunity for young girls with a disability to increase their awareness of opportunities available to them in sport. 

For further information about getting involved in Girls Disability Cricket at Cricket for Change, please contact, Beth Evans on bethevans@cricketforchange.org.uk or on 020 8669 2177

What does it take to help a gang member get their life back on track?  How long is it before a youngster who is blind feels confident enough to travel independently?

At Cricket for Change (C4C), each of our programmes has a distinct aim. Each aim is now being evaluated independently to assess its impact on the lives of the young people we are targeting.

In this Impact Statement, we provide an analysis of our programme delivery over the past year together with a number of impact assessments from independent third parties. All of this helps us fine-tune our programmes to maximise their impact. We also hope it helps us secure new partners so we can continue to achieve more.

 Three messages are key:

• First, while achieving our targets for the number of programme participants is important; this is not primarily a numbers game: it is social impact that counts.
• Second, we are engaged in a two-way process. We involve our young people in the planning, running and evaluation of our work – as many of our performance indicators demonstrate.
• Thirdly we believe passionately in the value of recruiting and training new coaches from within our programmes.

For over 30 years, C4C has led the way in the UK and across the world in demonstrating that cricket can be more than just a sport. It can have a profound and lasting impact on children and young people who are suffering from fear, stigmatisation or prejudice. It can bring people together who mistrust each other. And it can help create self belief in a young person with a disability who thinks more about what they can’t do rather than what they can.

We’ve done it for over three decades with cricket and now we are starting to do it with rugby through a groundbreaking, new partnership with The Dallaglio Foundation.

Amazing things are possible by harnessing the power of sport. We will continue to lead the way in unlocking that power.

Please download the statement below and really get a feel of the impact we have.

Thank You
Andy Sellins, CEO

This award rightly recognises Mati's hard and selfless work as part of the Refugee Cricket Project (run Cricket for Change in Partnership with the Refugee Council).

Matiullah Haidar, receiving his award from Team GB Weightlifter, Zoe Smith

This award caps off a very successful year of acknowledgement for Mati, as 2012 saw him win the inaugural Beyond Sport 'Generation Ali Award' (presented by the great Muhammed Ali along with David Beckham) and named as 'Young Volunteer of the Year' by Surrey Cricket CCC local Natwest OSCA's which led him to being nominated for a National OSCA.

To view details of Matiullah's winning nomination, download the pdf below.

We are proud to be able to say that the year has been a huge success and although, as with any new project, there have been a few hiccups that we have learnt from there have been a huge number of highlights.

The project is active in four boroughs of London, Brent, Haringey, Lewisham and Sutton, and over 150 young people are engaged. Three fantastic tournaments have been held with Abbey Manor, Lewisham being victorious in many games. As a reward the winning team from the April tournament were taking on a trip to Thorpe Park, and although taking out a group of young people of this nature can be challenging everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Through their commitment and engagement to the project three young people were offered and have embarked on work experience placements within the two charities. Part of Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change is about supporting young people on their journey from education into adulthood and hopefully into employment and this pilot of work experience was incredibly useful for all involved.

As charities we were able to spend quality time with the candidates and find out what it was that they were looking for and the type of support they need, this will help us moving forward as we arrange more placements out with the charities.

Looking forward we are very excited about the expansion of the project within London and across the UK but first we will be celebrating the successes of the young people, coaches and volunteers involved in the project at our end of year awards ceremony.

For more information on the Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change programme, please contact, Navjeet Sira on navjeetsira@cricketforchange.org.uk  

The day saw 69 young people with an Severe Learning Disability (SLD) or  Physical Disability and their teachers take part in a day which included lots different activities from fielding, batting, bowling, catching and the Cricket Factory.

Here are some feelings and comments on another positive day:

"The Disability Awareness day was a fine example of the hard work and dedication not just from Cricket for Change but of all disability schools across the capital. Everybody had a go, got to meet new people and where better to do it than at Lord's? A great day had by all and the charity thanks everyone for making it such a great day!”

"This was another great day in a groundbreaking year for the Hit the Top programme".

The day (supported by the Big Lottery) was again planned and organised by C4C's Peer Leaders, Khushali Patel, Dan Field and Daniel Mynott.

When all of the activities had ended for the day and when everyone was leaving all of the kids where saying how much of a great day they all had.

Lois is a participant on the, ‘StreetChance' programme supported by Barclays Spaces for Sport’, which uses tape ball cricket to engage with young people living in areas affected by youth crime and anti-social behaviour or lacking traditional cricket provision.

Despite being affected by several different visual impairments, including Aniridia, Lois plays StreetChance cricket in Sutton (which is co-ordinated by Cricket for Change) with a sighted girls group, which has helped develop her confidence and improve her game.

Lois was invited on stage with the ECB’s Head of Women’s Cricket and former England women’s captain, Clare Connor where she was recognised and commended for her cricketing, determination and courage. 

             Lois (Centre) with Charlotte Edwards (left) and Clare Connor (right)

Speaking about her experience on the StreetChance Sutton Girls’ project, Lois said:

‘I got involved with StreetChance two and a half years ago and since then, my confidence has grown. I feel more positive, as it’s helped my team mates understand my visual impairments and made me feel like they don’t see me as different.’

Lois is also a top player on the Surrey visually impaired cricket team, where she supports younger team mates in improving their game. She added;

“Cricket is a sport I love, and being a part of StreetChance has given me the confidence to get involved in other sports clubs inside and outside school. I’m really pleased to have been a part of the Girls on the Front Foot dinner and had the opportunity to share my story with others.”

Commenting on Lois, Cricket for Change and StreetChance coach, Beth Evans said: “It’s a pleasure to coach someone as talented, confident and inspirational as Lois. Since Lois has been involved in StreetChance, her confidence has developed tremendously and having her on the session has been a bonus for both me and her team mates, as we’ve learnt to adapt games to suit her needs. 

“When she bowls, the wicket-keeper will clap from behind the stumps to help Lois judge the distance between her and the batter, and if Lois is batting, the bowler will shout play as the ball is released. She’s one of my star players, and I’m really pleased to see her hard work recognised in this way”

The evening event brought together stakeholders, supporters and VIP guests, England women’s cricket captain, Charlotte Edwards and Sky News presenter, Sarah-Jane Mee who hosted the dinner, to celebrate women who have achieved the highest success in their field. 

The first of these Roll Call days was on 15th November where 10 different schools across London were visited with C4C coaches delivering cricket sessions to around 800 children or new Hit the Top cricketers! The day proved to be a great success and received brilliant feedback from the schools who took part along with many requests for more coaching.

The C4C coaches really enjoyed the day as well and are looking forward to the three more HTT Roll Call days which are set to take place over the coming months.

Click here for more on 'Hit the Top London'

'Hit the Top UK' is run in partnership with the The Lord's Taverners (and in collaboration with County Cricket Boards) brings teams of young people with a disability from across the UK to play in local and national competitions. 

Middlesex won the MLD competition, by virtue of taking one more wicket than Essex over the whole day - both were unbeaten and the game they played against each other was a draw!

And the Middlesex VI team helped secure the double on the day by narrowly beating rivals Sussex.

Everyone is looking forward to the next competition day!

The day saw an amazing 123 young people with an MLD and their teachers take part in a day which included lots different activities from fielding, batting, bowling and catching.

Here are some thoughts on the day:

"It was good to see so many people engaging in disability sport. They all opened up their minds to a new world and really embraced the chance that they had. Now with this new knowledge try can go back and further their skills in disability cricket"

"It is very encouraging to see that so many schools really want to increase their knowledge around coaching and understand the difference these games can make to young people. Just as importantly, it puts a huge smile on my face to see 123 young people having a top day, laughing and joking and playing some cricket."

At the end of the day, there was a big game of continous cricket where lots of runs where scored by everyone and lots of wickets where taken.

The day (supported by the Big Lottery) was planned and organised by C4C's Peer Leaders, Khushali Patel, Dan Field and Daniel Mynott and resoundly supported by their lead coach, Beth Evans

The event (supported by The Big Lottery) will be spread over 2 different dates, the 14th and 28th November 2012 and is to be held at Lord's cricket ground with both days running from 10am until 2pm.  Both days will see around 150 young people coming along on their own or with their friends and families to take all part in the days.

There will be an exciting mix of skill sessions and mini-games which everyone will be able to get involved in. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people with a disability to increase awareness of opportunities available to them in cricket. 

For further information please contact, Beth Evans on bethevans@cricketforchange.org.uk or on 020 8669 2177

Matiullah’s dedication to helping others and his sheer hard work has made it possible for many others to make progress in their own lives. He is kind, modest and incredibly grounded and one would struggle to meet another more deserving winner of this award and the achievements he has accomplished.

Matiullah’s selfless work has already been deservedly rewarded this year as the winner of 'Generation Ali Award', by Beyond Sport and named as 'Young Volunteer of the Year' by Surrey Cricket CCC local Natwest OSCA's which led him to being nominated for a National OSCA.

To view details of Matiullah's nomination, download the pdf below.

Adam, who plays for LT Dinosaurs Cricket Club* (who use the playing facilities at C4C’s Cricket Centre in Wallington, nr. Croydon) was moved into raising funds for C4C after being impressed by the impact of the work of the charity has had in many young lives.  Asked where the idea of trekking across part of the Alps came from, Adam said, “I’ve always liked mountains and have done quite a lot of walking and some mountaineering”.

Adam continues by saying, “I think cricket can be a great sport to help give people opportunities and teach important skills. The game should always open and available to all and C4C’s work really helps improve that”.  

Adam was inspired by an account in the book ‘Clear Water Rising (by Nicholas Crane) about walking from north-west Spain to Istanbul all through mountains. Adam notes that ‘work (and money) would prevent (him) doing something that long and so (he) decided to do something a little shorter and settled on the GR5 though the Alps’ (the GR5 is the hiking trail across western Europe, starting in Holland and ending in southern France covering some 1,500 miles! Adam covered the Alpine section).  

Adam (with the support of LT Dinosaurs CC) raised £1,400, smashing his £500 target over the boundary and Alps for six!

*More about LT Dinosaurs CC - a work based social cricket club, celebrated its 20th anniversary in August 2012. The club (whose President is Colin Mann) play mainly evening T20 games against other work sides in London but decided to have an all day bash to mark the occasion down at Cricket for Change’s Cricket Centre in Wallington. On 17^th August they mixed a day of cricket with some serious "apres cric" using C4C’s function room. The Dinos already use the charity’s Indoor cricket nets to hone their skills (limited - you try holding a bat with those claws!) and one of the clubs regulars, Stephen "Mini" Mann, was in the first set of qualified coaches to graduate from the C4C Apprenticeship programme. 

Paying tribute to the nominees, Mike Gatting, ECB MD Cricket Partnerships, said: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of our game. The candidates shortlisted today all play a vital role in ensuring that our grassroots game can continue to flourish and everyone here at the ECB is looking forward to seeing these people rewarded.”

Chris Long, Senior Manager - Sponsorship, UK Retail at NatWest said: “We’re very proud to have supported the NatWest OSCAs since they began, it is such a great way to end the season and recognise the game’s volunteers. The shortlisted nominees are all worthy recipients who all play an extremely important role in both community cricket as a whole and in their individual clubs. We look forward to celebrating with them when we reveal the national winners in October.”

Join the conversation on twitter at #NatWestOSCAs

Months of training, fundraising and anticipation all came to fruition at London's Excel Arena as all those in teams and as individuals took part on behalf of C4C in the Virgin Active London Triathlon over the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd September.

All 34 of those took part swam, rode and ran with heart and determination and they should all be very proud indeed (those on Sunday had to work hard through the strong winds and lashing rain as well!).

More will follow with pictures and quotes but here's a couple of early ones:

The Start the Kar Team with the UNICEF Duck!

 Some C4C Runners, Swimmers and team members!

The Hit The Top schools programme, supported in the capital by the Mayor of London, provides sporting opportunities for young people (under 18) with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or visual impairment. Through playing cricket with HTT, the young people taking part also benefit from greater and improved access to a fitter and healthier lifestyle. The programme also improves self-esteem, confidence and independent mobility skills within the young people that take part.

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“This is fantastic, I have never seen so many young people with such a variety of needs involved in the same game together” – P.E. Teacher at Watergate School, Lewisham

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The ‘Schools Challenge’ requires as many young people as possible to hit a ball bowled to them by a Cricket for Change coach in 1 hour. The school with the largest number of young people involved wins a very special prize - as simple as that! In addition, all schools will also be presented with a certificate for taking part.

“These games are perfect for our Key Stage 2 classes” – Class Teacher at Brent Knoll School, Lewisham

Beth, who delivers StreetChance sessions for girls aged eight to 18 in Sutton and Croydon, commented; “I feel very proud to be representing StreetChance in such an exciting opportunity – it’s a great project that shows young people they can do something great with their lives.

“Having watched the Olympics, the buzz around the Games was enormous, and I’m sure we can expect the same from the Paralympics, so the torch relay will help to celebrate the great achievements of the StreetChance programme”.

Everyone at Cricket for Change is extremely pleased for and proud of them both.

                            BETH and ALEX!

The StreetChance initiative (supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports) which Cricket for Change helps to deliver, alongside Middlesex and Surrey County Cricket Board in London, uses street cricket to engage young people living in inner-city areas affected by youth crime and anti-social behaviour, is now active in six other cities around the UK has engaged nearly 25,000 young people.

You can follow their route in Lambeth by clicking this link.

Team member, Theresa Roberts (and who works for Guide Dogs), explains why being chosen is such an honour; “Sight loss left me in a world of darkness and depression. Being a lover of sport I was forced to be become a frustrated spectator. ‘Rikki’, my guide dog brought back my independence and freedom which encouraged me to get off the couch and sidelines and back on the playing fields”.

Theresa continues: “I started to play Blind Cricket but was all most always the only female on the pitch. Together with Cricket for Change and our coach Beth Evans we started working on a dream, to build an all female blind cricket team, the first of its kind in the UK and Europe”.

Cricket for Change believes that cricket can be used to make a positive impact on the lives of blind and partially sighted women and girls and will help them make positive choices about their lives and to help them feel good about themselves. It's more than just cricket it's about changing lives for the better. Cricket is uniqe as it is able to help those with a disability share in the benefits of competitive team sport.

With the help of Cricket for Change their dreams are becoming a reality. The best results are seeing the girls blossom, starting out with low self-esteem, they change into confident, competitive team mates. Their individual stories are truly inspirational, some gaining employment, some graduating from university and expanding their social circles.

‘Playing cricket has inspired me to be more confident and ambitious, It taught me that a healthy body leads to a healthy state of mind’, continues Theresa.

Beth Evans, their C4C Coach is very excited for the girls and says, “I am extremely proud of them, the team and their fantastic achievements. I hope they have a great day because they deserve it”.


Some of the team below with their Guide Dogs

The event saw Cricket AM presenter Sarah-Jane Mee taking on MC duties, whilst Alex Tudor and Alec Stewart were on hand to present and congratualte the awards to the ten deserving winners.

Matiullah will now go onto be nominated for the regional and national awards through the NatWest OSCAs and Sky Sports Coach of the Year Awards and along with his award he won a round of golf and dinner with a number professional cricketers later this year.

Matiullah with the other award winners, front row fourth from the right

Danny Baker, C4C Training Manager, who made the nomination said; "Another great acheivement for Matiullah, I am very proud of him. He is an inspiration to others, demonstrating that regardless of your background you can aspire to make a difference to the lives of others’.

Danny was also nominated for two awards on the night, 'Outstanding Coaching Achievement' and 'Outstanding Services to Coaching'. Beth Evans, C4C, who nominated him said that; "Danny's passion for helping others through cricket is infectious and ensures that all who come into contact with him develop a love for the game".   Beth's father, Chris of Ashford CC, Middlesex, also won the 'Lifetime Achievement' award.

The Indoor School at Lord's was buzzing with music, cheering and fast paced Street20 cricket, perhaps in stark contrast to the match taking place outisde on the Nursery ground between The Authors CC and an Actors XI - or does it show the power of the game of cricket to engage with those from different backgrounds and both young and old?

The semi finals finished with victories for England and Pakistan. A tight and tense final ensued with England needing 12 runs off the last over (always possible in 'Street20'). However, they fell just short so Pakistan were the winners by a narrow 6 runs giving them with a second succssive tournament victory.

Following a fine curry lunch the afternoon saw all the teams mixed up and an opportunity to play with and get to know others with whom they had been battling against earlier in the day. This is the most important part of the day, a chance to realise the social impact that the game of cricket and in particular, 'Street20' has in being able to bring people from all backgrounds and walks of life together.

The day also proved important as it was the first year that an 'all girls' team had been invited to play (they were the C4C President's team) and it was also the first year that 'DJ Davey Diamond' made an appearence.

Finally, a huge thank you to INVESTEC, for without their support the day could not have happened and thanks to the MCC Academy and to Alex Bassan, C4C Development Coach for co-ordinating the day.

The following morning the team were up bright and early for a planning meeting around the new Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change programme as a whole taking place at the famous Coliseum where our hosts had kindly arranged for us to have free reign to wander round its greatness. As good as this was there was still much work to do before our evening session with the All Reds team so we found ourselves a quiet sport and made final preparations for our youth engagement workshop. An inspiring place to plan a session!

On Friday evening we arrived at the All Reds home ground which could only be described as a ‘the squat’ in the middle of a deprived area of Roma. It was a real homely place which I would describe as ‘basic but brilliant’ with its own converted bar, music studio, outdoor gym equipment and a full size rugby pitch. What was very noticeable is that the ground attracted its own community with people coming and going and enjoying the facility as a social hub.

The All Reds mission is to improve the lives of marginalised communities, particularly the gypsy Romany population in the area through rugby and youth engagement. Our job was to facilitate their learning and equip them with the tools and techniques to coach effectively and to understand how to discuss the contentious issues that young people face whilst specifically relating them back to rugby.

To do this we ran a youth engagement workshop, led by Perry Sophocleous exploring issues from trust to respect and decision making to challenging behaviour. Simple games and discussions were used to unlock these subjects and were very well received by the All Reds, so much so, that they wanted to continue with the workshop after it was due to end.

The success of Perry’s workshop meant that Mike’s rugby session was conducted using the lights from the building shining onto the pitch. Mike introduced the game of Rugby 4’s, the rules, basic strategies and why we use the format with our young people. The session was fantastic and everyone picked up the game very quickly and with the injection of Mike’s passion, energy and enthusiasm we played long into the night.

Our final day in Roma culminated in a competition held for local gypsy Romany children ranging from 4-14 years old. We used rugby drills, skills and games which then led into the game of Rugby 4’s which had been introduced to the All Reds the night before.

The All Reds coaches were encouraged to lead sessions as much as possible while we acted as coaches to the coaches, offering advice, ideas and stepping into the fold when necessary. It is fair to say that our All Reds friends found it tough going to begin with and struggled to keep the attention and respect of the young people. However, within an hour or so with the support of the Cricket for Change coaches they started to find their feet and ran a very successful and enjoyable day which the young people clearly loved.

It was sadly time for us to leave and although none of us wanted to we could take great comfort in knowing that we had started some fantastic work with the All Reds which was sure to continue after we left. Since the trip we have provided the All Reds with an extensive catalogue of coaching techniques , tools and guidelines, rules for Rugby 4’s, documented youth engagement tools form the workshop and a communication channel for continued support when needed. The plan from here is to work with the All Reds again in the future to build upon the great work that they have begun. This was an epic adventure in a truly family run environment.

Back in the January of 2011, the PTA of The Park Kindergarten kindly chose C4C as their 'Charity of the Year' and from that moment on had fun working hard to raise the amazing amount as mentioned.

The Park Kindergarten under 'Starters Orders' for their sponsored Scooter Race in March 2012

The school said, "The Park Kindergarten in Battersea has thoroughly enjoyed raising funds for Cricket for Change; from cake bakes, to sponsored scoots, to personalised paintings, Christmas cards and tea towels, the children were equally involved as the parents every step of the way and many cupcakes have been eagerly consumed in the name of the charity! 

We wish Cricket for Change all the best with their fabulous initiatives and look forward to keeping in touch with the charity".

Cricket for Change are extremely grateful for all the hard work that everyone has done in raising funds for the charity and everyone at The Park should be extremely proud of themselves!  Special thanks should also go to Henrietta, Kelly and Caroline.

Cricket for Change's Al Ramsay and Stefan McKenzie gratefully receiving the final amount!

Like many organisations, France Cricket and Mark were keen to use 'Street20' to engage with the marginalised communities within the capital. The communities being worked with had a high population of young people from a Pakistani or Indian heritage which made the introduction of cricket into these areas highly popular. However, it was those that were not from the cricket mainstream that needed targeting and 'Street20' cricket appears to be the tool to engage them.

We spent the afternoon at France Cricket HQ introducing the format of 'Street20', the rules, how it is played, scorecards and success stories to come through our programmes at home in the UK. 

In addition the French team were shown the process of organising and running a 'Street20' competition, introducing the game into the school’s curriculum and how a community session in the districts might work. When discussing the community session emphasis was given to the youth engagement tools used alongside the game in order to teach the young people life lessons of respect, time management, decision making and many more. The meeting also allowed the France Cricket officials to ask any questions that they had around the game, how it works to engage communities and funding strategy.

In the evening we were invited to observe and then run a session with some young people. The first part of the session was led by Daniel, France Head Coach and included various drills and games but with a hard ball. This would not be the case back in the UK, certainly not for the age ranges that were on show but these young people did have a very high ability it has to be said.

The second part of the session was led by Donovan Miller (Development Officer C4C) who introduced the game of 'Street20'. Donovan explained how the game is used in England and the idea behind the tape ball used. It was an instant hit so we ran a 2 hour competition for the young people. 'Street20' is now a game that is used as part of the regular training sessions that take place.

The idea behind this work is that in the coming years we are able to be involved with a European 'Street20' competition. Hopefully now France will be equipped to enter a team into what promises to be an exciting venture.

19-year-old Matiullah, who lost most of his family in the conflict in Afghanistan, came to the UK 4years ago as a refugee. He is now an integral part of the Refugee Cricket Project (RCP is run by Cricket for Change and the Refugee Council) and from the adversity of his early life it is through the example he sets as a brother and father figure to the other young refugees that are part of the RCP, which has set him apart.

Matiullah tirelessly gives his time to act as a humble pillar of emotional strength and support to those who feel isolated and fearful and then helps them to grow in confidence in a safe and secure environment.

Matiullah says, “I am delighted to have won the award and it was one of the most fantastic nights of my life” and he was also overwhelmed by the standing ovation that Muhammad Ali received.

Everyone involved in the Refugee Cricket Project are overjoyed at Matiullah winning this award including Danny Baker, Cricket for Change Training Manager, who has been a strong mentor to Matiullah says, “I am extremely proud of Matiullah and his achievements and he is a magnificent ambassador for young people in his community and the world”.

As part of the programme of support that Matiullah and his fellow nominees will receive as the founding members of Beyond Sport's Young Advisory Panel, they will be flown by British Airways to the Beyond Sport United conference, to be held at Yankee Stadium in New York on November 13th 2012.

CHECK OUT MATIULLAH ON ITV'S 'DAYBREAK' (With Nick Keller of Beyond Sport) - interview is about 43 minutes in - note link will last for 5 days.

Tayler, who plays for the Surrey BACD team (British Association for Cricketers with Disabilities - the Surrey team is coached by Danny Baker at Cricket for Change, (C4C)) has had an excellent year.  Tayler is also a graduate of the C4C Apprenticeship Scheme and has been a C4C Hit the Top Peer Leader.

Tayler helped steer the England Disability team to victory in a tri-nations series in South Africa (back in December in 2011) and has high hopes for the Surrey BACD team in this years BACD League semi finals.

Congratulations, Tayler, from everyone at Cricket for Change!

Under the charismatic leadership of Vladimir Ninkovic, the SCF (all volunteers) have created a Serbian Cricket League, a national team and have begun meeting with schools to get cricket into the schools either in school time or as an after school club. The trip not only helps the SCF with the development of the game as whole but perhaps more importantly shows how ‘Street20’ can provide an important opportunity to transcend inter-ethnic divisions, strengthening their language, social and leadership skills in areas of the country where there are issues of conflict amongst different ethnic communities (in this case, young Roma gypsies from Albania).

The trip was based around a visit to the town of Bujanovac, 4 hours or so away from Belgrade and a mere 2km from Kosovo.  As usual, C4C turned up and without saying a word set up a cricket pitch and started a game of ‘Street20’ in the middle of what seemed to be a High Street , starting with 15 young players which within an hour became 30 in number!

The SCF volunteers were fantastic hosts and also great with young people which made the ‘Street20’ training and playing both fun and impactful.

The Ambassador for the UK in Serbia, Michael Davenport, was also present as well as UNICEF officials, as Bujanovac is deemed a very important town in the area as it links the all the different religious communities together.

Andy Sellins, C4C CEO, said that C4C were delighted to be asked to contribute to the great work being undertaken by the Serbian Cricket Federation and their partners with marginalized young people and their communities, “We understand the power of cricket to bring young people together in a neutral and safe environment and this is exactly what we saw taking place during our recent visit. We are keen to work closely with the Serbian Cricket Federation and the International Cricket Council to develop a programme across the region and help create safer environments for many more young people”.

At the end of a busy day in Bujanovac, everyone was still buzzing with the events of the day and excited discussions about the way forward with ‘Street20’ in Serbia were already underway. The C4C team had a long drive back but a stop off at a wonderful Serbian restaurant helped restore the excitement.

Thanks to donations of equipment, it is hoped that ‘Street20’ cricket will become a regular part of life in south Serbia, with plans in-place for volunteers from the Serbia Cricket Federation to travel to the UK in the upcoming months the charity will look to extend the same level of wonderful hospitality as they showed to C4C.

C4C, TransConflict and the Serbian Cricket Federation would like to thank the British Embassy in Belgrade, PBILD, UNICEF, ICC-Europe, Centre for Tolerance and Integration of Southern Serbia, and the municipality of Bujanovac for their generous support and all are looking forward to fun and life changing partnerships.

For more information about cricket in Serbia, click here

Held on the Roof Top Terrace of the Lord’s Pavillion and hosted by BBC sports presenter Manish Bhasin, the StreetChance Awards celebrated the hard work and effort of players, coaches, volunteers and partners over the last year.

Eight awards were presented on the night including StreetChance Outstanding Player,  Outstanding Moment, Outstanding Young Leader, Outstanding Coach, Peace at the Crease Session, Outstanding Volunteer and finally the coveted StreetChance Special Recognition Award.

Donovan Miller, C4C Development Coach, was winner of the StreetChance 'Outstanding Coach Award' for the second year running, said about his achievement: ‘I’m feeling emotional but happy at the same time. I’m over the moon; it’s a really good feeling. It all goes back to the young people, because without them, I wouldn’t have won this. The hard work and effort they put in is second to none.’

Also present at the awards was Lord Henley, Minister of State for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, Phil Smith, Director of Sport at Sport England, former England fast bowler Gladstone Small and England all-rounder Samit Patel. During the Awards, Samit answered questions on the Q&A panel and who earlier in the day had played tapeball cricket with StreetChance participants at Lisson Green estate; down the road from Lord's.

Speaking at the event, Marianne Lea, (AGE) from (AREA)  winner of the StreetChance Outstanding Young Leader Award said: ‘It’s nice to know that my work with my coach and other coaches is getting noticed – I almost cried! I feel it’s something that will help power me through if I’m having a bad day. I’m really thrilled!’

Adam Hall, Development Manager at Cricket for Change noted: 'It was great for all Cricket for Change to attend the StreetChance Awards. It is a great way to celebrate a programme we are all very proud to be involved with. To see so many of our young people and staff win awards is a fitting tribute to all the hard work Cricket For Change put into StreetChance London.

Commenting on the evening, Chief Executive of the Cricket Foundation, Wasim Khan said: ‘It’s been a fantastic night, bringing all the participants, coaches and volunteers from various cities together to celebrate their StreetChance achievements. Events like this create a great sense of camaraderie amongst the participants and it’s nice to look back at what we’ve achieved over the last year but also look forward to new goals for the future.’

The C4C squad will be made up of young players from the C4C Visually Impaired programme and will be led by C4C’s Director of Operations and former England VI player, Andy Dalby-Welsh.  As well as taking part in the matches, the week long programme will involve the C4C squad coordinating a training programme for local coaches and young blind players.

This return trip is made feasible through the generosity of Dial-A-Flight who have been very supportive of C4C and its overseas development work.  C4C would like to take the opportunity to thank Dial-A-Flight for their fantastic support because without it this programme would not be possible.

The assesors from Middlesex Cricket Board were incredibly impressed with the guys at their Assessment in Finchley and they were a real credit to themselves and the charity. 

Well done guys on all of your hard work and every succcess in your future as cricket coaches and mentors to the young people you will be coaching.

Our CCC Advisory service has been launched to provide a valuable knowledge base free to Member clubs. It is extremely unlikely that any problem which a club faces today has not been dealt with by others in the Membership at some time in the past. CCC Advisory will find answers to these problems.

We are committed to embracing the interests of club cricket at all levels ranging from clubs and teams playing in parks to the upper reaches of club cricket. Our objectives are to create an environment promoting opportunities enabling clubs and players of all talents to find a level of competition which best matches their skills and to realise their full potential.

The Conference has been the leading emergency fixture bureau in the country since its inception in 1915.   A new online fixture bureau also enables Clubs to offer their own, or search for, available grounds.

Players of Member clubs are eligible to represent the Conference play at the highest standard of amateur cricket including fixtures against the Midlands Club Cricket Conference, League Cricket Conference, MCC and touring ICC Associate and Affiliate countries and County 2nd XIs. The Conference has always fielded men's XIs and from 2011 have embarked on a programme of Women's and U21s fixtures.

The Conference runs two Sunday knock out competitions.  The Conference Cup is played as 45 over matches. This is open to all Member clubs. The Sovereign Trophy is a competition for non premier league representative XIs.  The Conference are also promoting local Twenty/20 competitions to encourage more Sunday cricket bring greater vibrancy and utilisation of clubhouse and ground facilities.

Street Elite, the groundbreaking back-to-work community project pioneered by Cricket for Change and The Lord's Taverners (and supported by The Berkeley Group) has received the support of Employment Minister, Chris Grayling, who attended one of the scheme’s 'Take Back the Streets' sports festivals at the Linford Christie Outdoor Sports Centre in White City, London.

Employment Minister, Chris Grayling, said: "Initiatives like Street Elite are helping to ensure youngsters within the UK are being given an opportunity and the skillset to get back into education and ultimately employment.

"It has been great to see the graduates from the Street Elite programme leading the fight and passing their enthusiasm and knowledge to the youngsters in their local boroughs.

"Schemes like these are targeting the roots of the problems which are dividing so many communities and it is refreshing to see the way sport can change them for the better."

Street Elite is a programme that uses sport to help disadvantaged young people develop the confidence and skills to get back into education and find work. At a time when the drop in sports participation amongst 16-19 year olds has become increasingly topical, Street Elite also shows there is positive work taking place on the streets of the Capital.

Over the past six months the Street Elite scheme, supported by the Berkeley Group, has trained a group of young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs) and seen them gain coaching qualifications in cricket, rugby and futsal. The participants have since organised sessions with youngsters on local housing estates, inspiring them to get involved in sport and other positive activities which help address the kind of disillusion which led to the August 2011 riots across much of the country.

(original article from Cricket World.com on 31st May 2012)

Eight members of South Park Manor Cricket Club raised £600 after walking 27 miles from Reigate to The Kia Oval.

Players walked through rural Surrey and into south London for seven hours and 40 minutes before reaching the home of Surrey County Cricket Club on Sunday, April 22nd April.

      
                                                                                               OUCH!

South Park Manor CC's First team vice-captain, John Bullen, said future fundraising ideas are being discussed after a successful debut.  He said,“We are delighted to help this fantastic cause and we’ve already been discussing ideas for the next one.”

Alasdair Ramsay at Cricket for Change noted, "I was glad that for the most part the recent bad weather (at that time) stayed away. They deserved a bit of good fortune for their hard earned efforts and sore feet and blisters!

I would like to say a huge 'thank you' on behalf of everyone at C4C. We are all very appreciative of their efforts.  We look forward to growing the partnership".

South Park Manor CC have two sides that play in the Surrey Downs League, for more information visit www.southpark.play-cricket.com

Many thanks also to Surrey County Cricket Club for their support on the day.

ALSO SEE 'HOWZAT FOR A WALK'

The 6th CBV charity event, kindly sponsored by, 'Barclay's', will be held at The Cricket Centre, Plough Lane in Wallington and will again help raise welcome funds for 'Cricket for Change'. 

This is a unique summer event - great for cricket fans and non players alike. Enjoy a delicious lunch and free Pimms courtesy of NatWest Bank…great networking and a great atmosphere is also promised!

The lunch will be followed by a 25/25 charity cricket match - all spectators very welcome.

As part of the fundraising there will also be a charity auction and raffle - with some great prizes!

If you would like to play in the match or donate a prize please call Karen Day at CBV on 020 8681 8339 or email kd@cbvltd.co.uk

The participants have since organised sessions with youngsters on local housing estates, inspiring them to get involved in sport and other positive activities which help address the kind of disillusion which led to the August 2011 riots across much of the country.

The four captains were on hand to assist Street Elite graduates Kemar Campbell and Akiem McCarthy, both 21, deliver the session for 60 young people from Bentinck Primary School, Berridge Junior School and Catch22 at the Bridlington Street MUGA in central Nottingham.

Si Ledwith, Street Elite Co-ordinator and Cricket Development Assistant Development Manager, said; "The day was a success, it was wonderful to see the 4 England Captains engaging with the young people and Street20 cricket.

However, the highlight for me was seeing our two Street Elite coaches (Kemar and Akiem) running a session for young people from a gang prevention unit. These boys have come a long way during this programme and to see them discussing issues and using sport to engage was a proud moment for all of us"

 
Charlotte Edwards, Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad and Andrew Strauss pose with kids after conducting a coaching session in Nottingham.

England one-day international captain and Lord’s Taverners ambassador Alastair Cook said: “It’s great to come down and interact with the kids".

“While Andrew, Stuart, Charlotte and I were fortunate enough to realise our sporting potential through the ECB performance pathway, these youngsters also need a framework which organisations like The Lord’s Taverners are putting in place.

They are doing a great job around the country giving kids access to sport so were delighted to have the opportunity to do our part.”

Matthew Patten, Chief Executive of The Lord’s Taverners, added: “The Street Elite programme is all about giving young people like Kemar and Akiem the opportunity to transform their lives through cricket and other sports.”

The Refugee Cricket Project (RCP- run in partnership with The Refugee Council) made history with their first win against The MCC by 4 wickets at Chigwell School. 

The RCP players remembered the heartbreak of the 8 run loss in 2011 and were highly motivated and ready for this years match from ball one!

The MCC won the toss and on a glorious day in Essex opted to bat. After a rather sedate start the game was brought to life after 14 overs, with the score standing at 42 for 1.

One of the RCP fast bowlers skittled out 3 of The MCC batsman in an over followed by two more quick wickets including a run out left The MCC teetering on 59 for 7.  Surely the RCP lads would be chasing less than 75!

However, a solid 17 from MCC's Neale and a Not Out from Shawler (also 17) helped the MCC scramble to 98 all out. Two RCP fast bowlers getting figures of 4 for 16 and 3 for 6 respectively.

Now anyone who is an avid RCP fan will know that the boys love a rollercoaster chase and have never won or lost until the last ball but surely today would be the day that they strolled over the line.

With some early free flowing batting and flair shots off the spinners, the RCP cruised to 83 for 2 with the RCP's opening bat compiling a beautiful 59 before being stumped.

Then enter the rollercoaster. The RCP players thought they had won and decided to play a shot a ball and collapsed from 83 for 2 to 87 for 6. The MCC's Willets grabbed 3 wickets in 7 balls and nervous feeling amongst the RCP followers. A ridiculously poorly judged run lead to a very close not out decision and the players and staff at C4C were desperate to see a juicy full toss to win the game. This duly came and with the ball racing over the boundary, the victory and the day belonged to the RCP.

The MCC Captain, Steve Salisbury, was very complimentary of the way the game was played and of the skills that were on show. He noted that; “days like these show that the Spirit of Cricket is very much alive”. 

Man of the Match went to the RCP player whose tight bowling and score of 59 went a long way to helping secure victory. The RCP Man of the Match commented; “We are so proud to play the MCC and to win against such a well known team will live with me and the team for the rest of our lives”.

Special thanks go to Steve (Salisbury) and the MCC team for agreeing to play and to Frankie Griffith at Chigwell School for being such wonderful hosts. The boys in particular would like to thank Richard and Al for giving up their days to help the game go ahead.

The 5 members (along with 4 guide dogs) of the VI team taking part are: Theresa Robberts, Dianne marks, Danielle Garratt, Sarah Clare and Ramona Williams.

Everyone at Cricket for Change is extremely proud of them all and would like to wish them all the very best on their respective torch bearing journeys. 

Details of where they will be carrying the Paralympic flame will follow at a later date.

This year, the Young Advisory Panel will be made up of a group of individuals based in London, nominated by their affiliated organisation. The nomination process is now open the final panellists will be announced at the end of May 2012.

For further information about The Beyond Sport Young Advisory Panel, click on the logo below:

Myself, Danny (Baker) and Beth (Evans) all went to Mumbai, India to train up some young coaches from another charity called ‘Magic Bus’ to teach them how we use 'Street20' to change the lives of disadvantaged young people in London (and the UK) as well as giving them some ideas as to how they can use 'Street20' for their own programmes.

This was my first development trip with C4C as a trainer and from the off, I could see that the way we operate is very different to how our counterparts from India operate.

On the first day we ran, ‘Street20’ games and workshops to engage the young coaches on the programme. I learnt a lot from watching how Danny and Beth were talking to the group and many of the Indians spoke good English which helped a lot with the training.  Also some of the coaches didn’t like cricket which for me was very interesting.

At the end of the first day, we went to a slum in downtown Mumbai to watch a session of ‘Magic Bus’ coaching.  It was the most fascinating trip I had ever made and really made me realise how lucky most of us all are back in UK.

On Day Two, we looked at different cricket games and drills with the young coaches and showed them how they could teach these to the young people at their sessions.    Back home, I would ring a Sports Centre and book it, whereas 'Magic Bus' just play cricket in a local park, where there are over 100 people using the same plot of land for 100 different things!

We also played a little cricket with the older young people, which was nice.

On our way back to our hotel we went past where they were going to have their regional, ‘Street20’ competition, where up to 60 teams were going to take part and have a lot of fun. It looked a great venue and it was a shame that we weren’t going to be there to help out, maybe next time......

Day Three, was all about Youth work and we had the chance to show share our ways and experiences of delivering that kind of work back in the UK. This was great as many of the coaches enjoyed this much more than the training.

Magic Bus work differently to us but aim to help disadvantaged young people just like us, which was great to know.

This week for me was amazing and I met some great people along the way and hope to get another opportunity to learn from the rest of the C4C Development Team. I hope some of the Magic Bus coaches can come to the UK as it would be great to show them how we work.

It’s back to a busy summer for me now but India is a country that I will never forget!

Stefan, a Level 2 coach, has worked for C4C for a couple of years now and also used to be a Hit the Top Peer Leader - Click here to learn more about him and about Hit the Top

The day saw an amazing 49 young people (plus their teachers and supporters) with a visual impairment attend from all around London. The day, kindly funded by the Greater London Fund for the Blind, provided youngsters with an opportunity to play the great sport at the home of cricket and it was real delight that so many were able to attend this very special event.

For the majority, this was their first experience of the cricket and we are sure for many, it won’t be their last.  It is hoped that after the fantastic feedback received about people’s experiences, that some of the young people have been inspired into joining their local Hit The Top Visually Impaired (V.I) cricket clubs.

For the young people, the day involved a mixture of exciting events.  The day was made even more special because there were 5 players from the England Blind squad (Matt Dean, Mark Bond, Joe Harrison, Dan Field & Ryan Jones) who joined everyone and provided great encouragement and inspiration. They assisted with the morning’s coaching session which involved an assortment of catching, ground fielding, batting and bowling.

Also along to provide encouragement and inspiration, particularly for the significant number of girls who attended the day, were Theresa Robberts and Sarah Clare (from the first ever all female Visually Impaired cricket team in England). They led a fantastic presentation/Q&A session just for the girls on the balcony over lunch. This was a great success and resulted in a number of them requesting details for the girls-only Hit The Top V.I club.

The day also doubled up as teacher training, where school staff involved in the delivery of physical education for students with a visual impairment could learn techniques for making their lessons more inclusive. This was a hugely significant part of the day as it means more teachers are now aware of how can they can include visually impaired young people they teach into their lessons, so they too can enjoy the benefit of sport.

Alan Styles, Support Teacher for Visually-Impaired Students at Sydenham School, found the day extremely beneficial said, "I would like to thank you and all who helped on the day, on behalf of our two students who attended the above event, for making the occasion possible. I am sure the enthusiasm and expertise of the team presenting the activities was an inspiration to the attendees".

Tracey Galloway from Oxted School also said, "just to convey a big thank you from us all.  Our students had a great day, and so did we!  A big thumbs up all round".

Si Ledwith, C4C Assistant Development Manager, armed with a bag of simulation goggles, led the fun and informative session for the adults which incorporated a mix of practical and theoretical teaching.
 
The afternoon saw the day discover a competitive edge with 6 randomly selected teams formed to battle it out to win the 2012. This gave all the young people were given the chance to bat, field and bowl in the games which was the most important thing.

Everyone who took part was a champion and before they went home they were all presented with a certificate which had been signed by England’s Joe Harrison.

The C4C Hit the Top Peer Leaders, Khush Patel, Daniel Mynott & Fred Bridges who all did an outstanding job in pulling the day together are also very grateful for the help they received in making this day a success. Thank you so much to Matt Dean, Joe Harrison, Dan Field, Mark Bond, Ryan Jones, Theresa Robberts, Sarah Clare, Beth Evans, Si Ledwith, Louise Rose, Andy Dalby-Welsh, the Greater London Fund for the Blind team & all the staff at the MCC Indoor Academy.

Looking forward to the next one!

There was always a warm welcome from John Barclay, of the Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation, who hosted kindly host the festivals and despite the worst weather possible, the young people played both inside and outside but kept on smiling throughout a wonderful three days of cricket.

A number of the students also had the chance to go on a tour of the stunning Arundel Castle and even stay the night nearby which only added to the experience.

Daniel Mynott, Cricket for Change Hit the Top Peer Leader, said “Arundel festivals are a wonderful opportunity for young people with a disability to get away from their school environment and in my opinion, it's been the best festival yet, even with horrendous rain!

Many Thanks go to Dycourts, William Morris, Westlea, Carew Manor, Riverside and Garratt Park for coming along and making a fantastic atmosphere during a great three days!"

The conference strap line 'providing a platform for success' to be held over two days invites all European member countries to London to take part in a workshop, plenary and interactive conference with invited speakers from across cricket and other sports. The sessions will include topics on the four P's developing Partnerships, increasing Participation, enhancing Policy and improving Performance.

Andy Sellins, Cricket for Change CEO, and Andy Dalby-Welsh, Cricket for Change Director of Programmes, will be among a range of speakers that have been invited from the world of sport including: International Development at UK Sport; The Rugby League European Federation; Sport & Recreation Alliance's Governance & Compliance Officer; the Sports Unit at the Directorate General for Education & Culture at the European Commission; Women’s and Girl’s High Performance Manager and Head of Women’s Cricket from the England & Wales Cricket Board.

Cricket for Change will also deliver an interactive 'Street20' session alongside other ICC Europe’s partners and suppliers including such as: Cricket Factory, CP Sport, Notts Sport, Surridge, Flicx, Kookaburra and PCM Risk Solutions. This will be a opportunity for ICC Europe members to experience a range of creative cricket products.

Nick Pink, ICC Regional Development Manager remarks that "this is an exciting opportunity to bring together all of ICC Europe’s members alongside many high profile speakers and presenters from around the world of cricket and sports administration. The 4 P's are fundamental to what we all do and it should be a great two day platform."

The ICC European Conference aims to improve the game of cricket in Europe in partnership, participation, policy and performance.

This years competition was a lively affair with a real message.

Guest spaker, Paul Hannaford, spoke powerfully to the teams about the negative effects of drugs and the positive aspects of sport and this really set the scene with the young people. The DJ was banging out some big tunes and the 'Street20 Skill Skool' was setting the teams up with the skills required to get the most out of their day.


CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON TO SEE WHAT THE DAY WAS ALL ABOUT!
(Film by Kind Permission of Rob Porter)

It's an amazing sight to see at these events, young people from Portsmouth to Reading mixing with each other and getting along through cricket.

NEWCASTLE - Winners!

With a great curry lunch and then semi finals, the final between Newcastle and Sussex was upon us.  Newcastle had unfinished business with Sussex having lost the 2011 semi final to the same opposition.

Newcastle battled hard to win the competition losing only once along the way ironically against a fellow Sussex team.

The day was a huge success and full credit must go to all the staff, coaches and helpers who made the day such a success.

One young man called 'Mickey' summed the day up beautifully, “Great day with some people I would never have hung out with before. I even realized I could bowl and taking a catch was great. Bring on the next one!"

Sport is a fantastic way to help tackle the tribalism that divides so many communities in London. It creates a space in which young people from different schools and postcodes can learn to collaborate.

Over the last six months, each of the 19 young people has gained a coaching qualification in cricket, football, rugby or futsal. They have then organized sessions with youngsters on local housing estates, inspiring them to get involved in sport and other positive activities which help address the kind of disillusion which led to the August 2011 riots across much of the country.

One of the coaches, Shaddai Olofinbinu, who is helping to run a Street Elite festival, said, “Without the programme, I’d probably be back in prison right now.”

Each of the six festivals this summer will give hundreds of young people a chance to try a variety of sports and join a local sports club. There will also be street dancing sessions and a Met Police workshop on offer. The first festival takes place in Hackney at Millfields Park North, Clapton on Tuesday 24th April and will be attended by approximately 200 young people plus coaching staff from Tottenham Hotspur FC, who will join in with the football session.

'Street Elite' is supported by the Metropolitan Police and funded by the Berkeley Foundation. Rob Perrins, Managing Director of the Berkeley Group said, “When you see that youth unemployment is costing the public purse £4.8 billion in 2012, you realize how much we need projects like Street Elite. It’s low-cost and highly effective. And if it works in London, why not roll this out nationwide?”

Below are details of where a number of Street Elite Festivals will be taking place over the summer of 2012:

Tuesday 24th April - Hackney - Millfields Park North, Clapton
Wednesday 25th April - Southwark - Burgess Park Community Sports Ground
Thursday 26th April - Greenwich - Thomas Tallis School, Kidbrooke Village
Tuesday 29th May - Wandsworth - Wandsworth Common
Wednesday 30th May -
Hammersmith & Fulham - Linford Christie Outdoor Sports Centre
Thursday 31st May - Ealing - Gurnell Leisure Centre

It was another great day to see players in teams from very different backgrounds (and cities) coming together to do their best for the sides and get to know and meet new people and boost their confidence, not just on the pitch but off it as well!

The day was split into two competitions with the Visually Impaired competition and the Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) competition being played in different halves of the building. The MLD competition was run as a adhoc league with teams having groups and then playing extra games at the end to maximize the playing and learning of the players.

The day was very close and it was left to the experience of Harold Wood to steer them through with a 100% win ratio over the day to become thoroughly deserved winners.

Congratulations must be extended to all players, coaches and supporters from all counties as it truly was a wonderful day and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

The young people had a great day and Ronnie Jackson from Harold Wood summed up the day, “I have been coming to my disability club for a few years now and I cant believe how many new friends I have. The cricket was good too, I will definitely be training hard for the next competition”.

Players will begin walking from Reigate with a stump and pass it on to other players who will be positioned at various stations along the route.  

Donation boxes have been placed at the South Park CC clubhouse and within local shops and players also sought outside sponsorship.

South Park Manor CC First team vice-captain John Bullen, 27, who organised the walk, said it could be the start of a number of fundraising events for the charity.

He said: “When we found out about the amazing work the charity does in the UK and overseas then we jumped at the chance to help out.

“I must admit there hasn’t been a lot of training going on and a few of us have got our eyes on a welcome pint at the Oval. It should be a great day out for everyone connected with the club.”

The walkers will be met by charity members and could also be met by some Surrey players during the County Championship match against Worcestershire.

Alasdair Ramsay, C4C's Marketing and Fundraising manager, added: “We were delighted when South Park approached us with this challenge. We wish them all the best and offer our sincere thanks from Cricket for Change.”

Members of the England Blind cricket team as well as C4C's women/girls Visually Impaired (VI) team will be present to provide demonstrations of VI cricket and talk to the young people. During the afternoon their will be a chance to take play in a tournament, which is sure to be fiercely competitive!

Teachers are also invited to attend the day and will receive valuable training on the aspects of being VI inclusive and aware within their school activities. A number of representatives from county cricket boards will also be in attendance as will some other non-sporting VI organisations will be able impart their experience and advice.
We have had incredible interest for the event, in what will be a fun, inspiring and informative day for everyone, as well as providing an opportunity for some of the young people to join up with a number of the Hit The Top VI clubs near to their school or where they live.

At 3pm when the event officially finishes, there will be the opportunity for anyone who wants to, to go on a tour of Lord's.

If you would like to be a part of this exciting day please get in touch with Beth Evans, Development Coach and HTT Peer Leader Co-ordinator on bethevans@cricketforchange.org.uk

The C4C coaches who attended were, Perry Sophocleous, Alex Bassan and Stefan McKenzie and they took part in round table discussions such as ‘Sport for Development’, ‘Youth Voice and the Commonwealth’ and ‘Environmental Issues and Climate Change’.

Stefan said of the day, “It was good to meet other people from around the world and see what the power of sport can do” and Perry, whilst making a contribution to a film made on the day giving young people’s views from around the Commonwealth said, “Young people are not just here for today, they are here for tomorrow. It was great to see the effect of sport (for development) has on shaping the policies of the future”.

 
(Perry appears about 1:38 secs into the film)

The C4C coaches were invited because of their expertise in how they engage and listen to the young people they meet and encounter within their relevant development programmes. 

They were able to give their experienced opinions on the issues young adults are concerned about and listened to how the Commonwealth is responding to those issues and the relevance in their lives. The C4C coaches also benefitted by learning more about Commonwealth issues, meeting Commonwealth organisations and finding out how to get more involved in the Commonwealth led initiatives.

The Peace at the Crease events bring together the young people (who attend the regular community cricket sessions) and the local police Safer Neighbourhood team (SNT) and help to build trust and improve relations with local children.

The regular cricket sessions also provide a positive outlet for young people to prevent them from being drawn into joining gangs or committing crime.

Priory Court Estate, Walthamstow, East London (Mar.2012)

Ali Katkin brought himslef and the rest of his team from the local SNT on Priory Court to test their cricketing skills at 'Street20' cricket. Led by Phillip Steedman, the police fought well and came away with a victory. The young people played like a real team but just couldn’t pull it out of the bag.

 

Training to beat the police is now the number one priority of the young people who attend the Priory Court sessions. The SNT team are now going to come down once a month to play the guys and give them a rematch. There was also time at this event for a 5 minute question time in which some interesting questions were asked.

Will the young people pf Priory Court beat the police next time around?

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Broadwater Farm, Tottenham, North London (Mar.2012)

The local SNT in Broadwater Farm came down to play 'Street20' with the young people from the local estate in what was a close game. However, Seargent Mike Tisi and his police squad proved too strong in both games winning them by 3 and 18 runs respectively. 



The young people are now determined to beat the police and are training harder than ever. The police have agreed to come back once a month to play the young people again. This competitive nature between the two has spurred them both on to win.

Impressed Sergeant Mike Tisi says, “Police engaging with youth projects is key to us all moving forward as a community.  The Streetchance sessions at the community centre have been really well received by everyone who has attended them. 

Sergeant Tisi continues, "We felt honoured to be invited to 'challenge' the youth to a game and on this occasion we were fortunate enough to be on the winning side, but what is important is not who wins but instead it is that everyone enjoys themselves, that we all work together as a team and that those attending learn to apply themselves, learn skills, learn to work together as part of a team and most of all have fun!”

Click on the picture below to view a 'short' video of the recent Broadwater Farm event.

These sessions are a great focus for the young people and they have shown to really take to the police and will take even more out of beating them next time!

CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE HOW FREDDIE GOT ON!

Street Elite is supported by The Berkeley Group and is part of the Cricket for Change Lord's Taverners partnership.

For more information on 'Street Elite' contact Si Ledwith on siledwith@cricketforchange.org.uk

     
            Adam Hall                               Ben Breen
                                           (click on Ben's picture to hear more
                                            about his involvement in Blind Cricket
                                                 - video from 2009)

Sponsored by the Lord's Taverners and Cricket for Change, the scheme hopes to reach 4,000 children in its inital phase. Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian

Attempting to bridge social divides, however, for people in their teens and early 20's is a new, ambitious project that introduces "pint-sized" versions of leading sports to those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Nineteen people training to be coaches for the project have stayed the course since signing up in October; one had previously been in prison and others had had brushes of varying severity with the law. They are flag-bearers for an initiative aimed at ultimately introducing 4,000 children on 12 estates in six London boroughs to the joys of sport over the coming months.

The Street Elite scheme, run by Cricket for Change and the Lord's Taverners charities, may not be the first to bring games out of stadiums and on to estates, but it is unusual in involving young session leaders from such similar backgrounds to those they hope to enthuse.

If successful in helping young people to learn to work in teams, play by the rules and make positive choices about their lives, it will be taken to other cities.

For Shaddai Olafinbinu, 23, from Bermondsey, south London, being here "has really changed my life". He left jail last summer after serving a year for robbery. "I thought I needed something to keep me away from trouble, to keep me focused so I didn't go back inside," he says. "Ever since I came here, I have loved it. It is fun, challenging and inspiring."

In two-hour sessions at the Downside centre, he and others learned how to umpire or referee games, perform first aid and understand sporting injuries; how to organise competitions, including advertising the event and recruiting players; and how to defuse conflict on and off the pitch. They have also been taught about child protection, given job interview tips.

"Coming here has helped me," says Olafinbinu, who had done some previous football coaching. "I thought I could never get back into sports. I had given up."

The programme, aimed at 16- to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training (neets), started just months after riots rocked English cities. Organisers say such experiments are vital at a time when there are almost 1 million neets in England and sporting participation is said to be showing little "Olympics effect": just over one in four 16- to 19-year-olds do at least three 30-minute moderate intensity sessions a week, research suggests.

The £100,000 pilot, part-funded by Berkeley Group developers, continues with the coaches taking the games to estates and helping at local festivals of sport.

Matthew Patten, chief executive of the Taverners, said his "establishment" charity had moved from helping "white middle-class kids on green fields, playing in whites, to the frontline of socially profound issues".

Finding new sporting talent would be lovely, he says, but adds: "This ultimately is about getting young people into work.

"Government programmes are really important but we would argue one size doesn't fit all. This is a small local programme and is about pastoral care.

"The challenges are really severe and this is only the beginning. But we do want to make sure we can walk before we can run."

Only five of the original 24 starters had dropped out. "If we can get 50% of these young people into employment, the value of that goes well beyond the price of this activity," Patten says.

Many on the programme had experienced being knocked back, said Si Ledwith of Cricket for Change. Yet some had already found work or were studying.

"We are talking about contentious issues, anything from gang culture, to drug use, respect, decision-making and realising that changing your opinion is absolutely fine … The more young people get into sport at a younger age, ultimately the less crime there will be in their communities."

Kemar Campbell, 21, from Peckham, though out of work now, says he had held down jobs, worked with a local community charity and had studied both business and sport.

"I am a sporting person, I like to help, and I get certificates at the end of it … I would like to be a financial consultant. At the end of the day, we all have to have ambitions."

Akiem McCarthy, 20, from Lewisham, recently ran a street cricket game on an estate. "We had to start from scratch. There were smiles. No casualties, and it was all good at the end of the day."

Suliemen Mirza, 18, from Hackney, says he has encountered gangs and people dealing drugs in the past and would now be able to tell those people there were alternatives. "Hopefully I can open doors for them," he says. "I have always been a confident speaker but I have learned not to shout and how to defuse situations."

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Short sport

Cricket – Street20
Two plastic bats, two plastic sets of wickets, tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape, up to six players a side. Each game lasts 20 balls a side – five players bowl four each (sixth keeps wicket).

Rugby – Street4s
Tag version of sport, with no posts. Crossing the try line is followed by kicking the ball towards your own side, one of whom has to catch it to bring extra points for the conversion.

Football Five-a-side
Ball kept below head height, with change of goalkeeper after a score. Rules adaptable, eg limited passes before a goal.

Beth Evans from Cricket for Change and coach of the Sutton and Croydon StreetChance teams said, "I am extremely proud of the girls. The girls only started training in January and to have come so far in such a short period of time is a fantastic achievement".

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Sutton and Croydon Girls 'StreetChance' is co-ordinated by Beth Evans, Development Officer at Cricket for Change.  'StreetChance' is supported by Barclays Spaces for Sport

A stone's throw away from some of the most devastating scenes of last year’s riots, the girls were shown basic defence techniques to protect themselves by instructors from 'Premier Self Defence'. 

The session established that non-violence is always the first stage of defence and the girls were shown how to use simple verbal skills to ward off an attack. Following a successful and loud series of disarming shouts the girls were shown various defence moves in the form of pokes, jabs, knees and kicks followed by a demonstration of a painful looking elbow to the groin.

After the initial training, two brave instructors dressed in protective gear (pads, helmet with face guards and groin cups) and simulated a real attack on each girl individually. This allowed the girls to feel under attack in a safe environment and to put what they had learnt earlier in the session into practice. The girls then performed a series of defensive shouts, jabs, pokes and kicks to ward off their would-be attacker. 

This session was not only fun but extremely practical as each participant left the session with the confidence that they could protect themselves if the need arises.

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Sutton and Croydon Girls 'StreetChance' is co-ordinated by Beth Evans, Development Officer at Cricket for Change.  'StreetChance' is supported by Barclays Spaces for Sport

The day was part of the Dallaglio Foundation Rugby for Change (DRFC) programme and involved the boys engaged in several training techniques with professional rugby coaches from London Scottish and DRFC.

The group, taking full part in the day, started despite the snow and the incredibly cold temperatures warmed up with jogging, a series of press-ups, running round obstacles and testing their reaction times in pairs and seeing who could get the ball first.  

They then practised charging at the crash pads and the tackle bags; they learned passing, as well as kicking the ball, and were excited to have the opportunity to talk with Lawrence Dallaglio himself, who joined in with the exercises, talked to the students, and later signed T-shirts for them.

Following the training session, the schools joined together and played a series of mini-games to practise the skills they had just learned. 

Before they broke for lunch, our boys piled themselves into a pyramid, maintaining their balance for longer than the other team, despite Lawrence being a part of the other team’s base. 

All of the students relished their trip out, and the opportunity to pursue new ventures in a professional environment.  It was inspiring for them to observe the professionals at work, and to see opportunities that are available for the future. There was a photographer following all of the days’ activities, and the boys loved looking at the pictorial diary on the website later.

Contributed by Nancy Stanger-Roberts

There were an array of teams from twelve different London Boroughs and undeterred by cold, they focused their attention on cramming in as much vital practice as possible, creating an atmosphere of nervous energy, enthusiasm and anticipation.

Everyone was eager to get under way and it was not long before the cricket fever spread - balls were flying everywhere and the runs were flowing. The first few games were a perfect example of the fast moving, adaptable game of cricket.

‘Street20’ itself is a short and sharp game aimed at successfully taking cricket into an urban environment. Alex Bassan, C4C Development Officer, said: “’Street20’ is quick, fast and energetic game engages young people through sport. It is a useful tool for our coaches to reach out to the young people and use their best skills through youth work”. Over the years, the charity has run over one hundred training courses to ensure more people can set up their own inner city programmes.

I then asked Danny Baker (C4C Training Manager) about why the events are so important,  “As well as giving ‘structure’ for the projects, they also “[provide] our young people with a chance to put their skills to the test as well as catch up with friends from other boroughs.”

The standard of cricket was extremely high and some immense games were being played out between tightly matched teams throughout all the competitions: seniors, boys and girls. When speaking to Danny again about the mass participation he told me: “It’s great to see everybody mixing up and getting to know each other, especially in a time where many young people are deemed anti-social and when the world can seem a bad place.

He finished by saying: “Cricket can be the one thing that creates a positive thought in a young person.”

After a small lunch break, which played host to friendly matches and an excessive amount of taping up tennis balls, the final rounds of matches were played. The players now seemed even more fired up and everyone now had their sights set on one thing: the final. Each team maintained their high levels, with the results gradually becoming closer and closer.

As we approached three o’clock it was time for the boys final: an extremely hard fought final, with both teams batting confidently and demonstrating the quality of cricket the ‘Street20’ programme has become accustomed to. After a nail biting final over, a loud cheer of excitement roared and echoed around the playing court; Waltham Forest had won!

Once the excitement had calmed down and the winning photos had been taken, I spoke to Alex Bassan on the “outstanding” event. He told me: “The day went really well and a lot of teams achieved some new targets, or even more. It was really great to see many different boroughs involved. Boroughs have a big religious divide and [today] provided them with the chance to interact and understand other people’s views.”

I would like to thank everyone who attended, and the hard work of everyone who was part of the C4C team. Along with the help of The Cricket Foundation, Barclays Spaces for Sport and The Met. Police the day was another “great success”.

Article by Sebastian Chmielinski – C4C Apprentice 2012

  

Essex County Cricket Board Project Coordinator, Chris Drummond, said “Every individual who attended today can be proud of their efforts, showing the spirit of cricket throughout the day and remarkable levels of sportsmanship.”

Talking further on why these events are so important to Essex, Chris said, “This competition has brought such a diverse group of individuals together, from such varied backgrounds and circumstances and to see them all integrated and share experiences is remarkable. Without the levels of support we receive from Cricket for Change, The Lord Taverners and coaches from the projects, such events would be impossible to run” .  

The initial rounds of the competition started with a fast and furious round robin format, ending up with TLA (A) and Clacton topping their groups in some highly entertaining and intense matches.

Semi Final fixtures defined the efforts of the young people who had conducted themselves with tremendous credit throughout the morning and afternoon periods. Batting first, TLA (A) made a creditable 46-1 from their five overs. In reply Highwoods reached 29-4 from their quota.

Finishing third in the preliminary stages, TLA (B) earned a tough Semi Final fixture against a strong Clacton side. Clacton batted first and, despite losing a wicket to the first ball, scored a formidable 53-3. TLA (B) was always behind the run rate and finished on a respectable 37-2.

There was some consolation for the TLA (B) team when they won a nail biting third/fourth place playoff scoring 44-2 then restricting Highwoods to 43-0.

Batting first in the Final, TLA A were struggling at 24-2 after four over’s. Four wide balls in the last over proved disastrous for Clacton allowing the home side to reach a respectable 44-2. Steady batting against accurate bowling saw Clacton in a strong position with one over to go, requiring only a further 14 runs for victory!

Cometh the hour, TLA (A) skipper J, to bowl the last over of the match. Any no balls or wides, giving away three runs and an extra ball would have been disastrous! He showed great credit by taking 2 wickets and conceding only 3 runs, to grant TLA (A) worthy winners on the day.

Commendable runners up Clacton had matched their host’s ball for ball throughout the day but in the end the home side edged the match with a tremendous final over.

 

For the Visually Impaired county competition, there was Essex, West Lea and Surrey, three great teams that played well throughout the day. However, it was Essex that came out on top at the end of the day.

For the M.L.D (Mild Learning Disability), there were 10 teams involved which also included some teams taking part in their first ever HTT competition. Everyone played their hearts out but it was another success for Essex as the HTT club, Harold Wood, were crowned champions.

The young people taking part were welcomed to the competition by some special guests from the England Learning Disability Squad. Jonathan Gale, Daniel Levey and Taylor Young, who all came through the C4C Apprenticeship programme, umpired and helped out with a number of games as well as being on hand to lend plenty of encouragement and support to those taking part.

A big thank you to all of the volunteers, teachers and C4C staff who helped out and brought many of the young people along to competition day.

By Stefan McKenzie, C4C Development Coach

     

I would like to recommend ‘Cricket for Change’ to any school. Their staff are extremely professional with clear goals and highly skilled in their delivery, motivation and rapport with the pupils"

 

‘Inclusive and Active 2’ has been created in partnership between the Greater London Authority (GLA), NHS London and Interactive. With a vision of active disabled Londoners, it aims to increase participation levels of disabled people, change the perception of disabled people being active and embed sport and physical activity within the mainstream provision.

Stewart Lucas, Chief Executive of Interactive said “Over the last 30 years, Cricket for Change has greatly enhanced cricket opportunities for disabled people in London. Now, by adopting ‘Inclusive and Active 2’, they will not only build on the fantastic work of their own remit but also permeate inclusive opportunities for disabled people across the whole cricket landscape”.

Cricket for Change President Phil Tufnell said “We do so much great stuff for kids with disabilities its fantastic. It is brilliant that because of ‘Inclusive and Active 2’ everyone is now going to take responsibility and they’ll get even more chance to play and become coaches.”

By adopting ‘Inclusive and Active 2’, Cricket for Change has developed an action plan detailing how they will implement targets under each of the five themes of the strategy. Key areas include lead officer, workforce development initiatives, coaching plans, campaign linkages and improved club understanding of inclusion.

Andy Dalby-Welsh, Cricket for Change’s Director of Programmes, said “We are really excited to adopt ‘Inclusive and Active 2’. The strategy will ensure that provision of sport for young people with a disability is not just the responsibility of disability sporting organisations but the whole mainstream sporting system.”

Cricket for Change joins a strong and ever growing partnership of London agencies with strategic and provision responsibilities for sport and physical activity who have or are currently working towards adopting ‘Inclusive and Active 2’ and making it a reality.

For further details please contact, Andy Dalby-Welsh, C4C Director of Programmes on 0208 669 2177 or e-mail andydw@cricketforchange.org.uk 

Fred Bridges, a spin bowler for Broadbridge Heath CC in the West Sussex League, has retained his place in the England Physical Disabilities squad for the international series against Pakistan in Dubai in February, and this honour should help his work as a new Hit the Top Peer Leader with the Cricket for Change charity.

Bridges, 21, suffers from hemiplegia down his right side, but he has the ability to compete in open cricket, something out of the reach of most handicapped cricketers beyond this England group. The squad are training at Loughborough before departure, though there was disappointment for Adam Leach, of Oxford CC, when he had to withdraw injured from the trip.

The England side are scheduled to play three matches against Pakistan at the ICC Global Cricket Academy after their arrival for acclimatisation on February 7, and the two parties will have a chance to watch Alastair Cook's England play Pakistan in a one-day international in Dubai on February 21.

Bridges looks like having a busy year with Cricket for Change, an organisation who do incredible work for the disabled and under-privileged youth in the London area. A coach at Cricket for Change, the Woodford Wells CC bowler Donovan Miller, is touring with the Club Cricket Conference in Oman in March.

A notable achievement for C4C, as they are known, has been the building of a beautiful Cricket Centre at Wallington in Surrey, opened in 2004 under the presidency of Phil Tufnell, complete with its 'Tuffers Bar'.

Cricket for Change started life as the London Community Cricket Association, formed after the Brixton riots in 1981, and this well-run charity has used the game to transform the lives of so many people. The examples related by the young leaders on the website www.cricketforchange.org.uk always tug at the emotions.

From a cricket match at Feltham Youth Offenders Institute -- where the prisoners beat the guards off the last ball -- to the story of Ruzivo Kamuriwo, a disabled Zimbabwean boy, one can find examples of Cricket for Change's impact. The determined Kamuriwo, like Fred Bridges, is now a peer leader.

Kamuriwo, with learning disability and very little use in his left arm, might have been one of life's losers after emigrating from Zimbabwe with his family. It was at William Morris School in Wathamstow that Adam Hall, a Cricket for Change coach, showed him the game for the first time in 2006. Kamuriwo became hooked, with virtuoso fielding his speciality, graduating quickly to hardball. Within a few years he was selected for Essex and was being considered for the England Disabled squad.

The website related: "The added responsibility put on Ruzivo had a noticeable improvement on his confidence and outlook on life. His teachers remarked on his demeanor within school and saw a big improvement on his grades."

However, Ruzivo did not make England squad bound for Dubai, but he will be following the fortunes of his Cricket for Change colleague Fred.

England Physical Disability squad:

James Williams (Cheshire, capt), Matthew Askin (Shropshire), David Parcell (Wales), Daniel Hamm (Cheshire), Daniel Holder (Cheshire), Fred Bridges (Sussex), Shaun Rigby (Shropshire), Gareth Walton (Durham), , Samuel Wyles (Warwickshire), Liam Thomas (Yorkshire), Dan Reynaldo (Hampshire), Callum Flynn (Lancashire), Gordon Laidlaw (Yorkshire), Matthew Partington (Lancashire).

Entry Fee £400 to include:

•             Team of Four (with allocated Tee off times)
•             Tea, Coffee and Bacon Rolls on arrival from 8.30am
•             Buffet Lunch from 2pm, additional guests welcome
•             Nearest the Pin, Longest Drive and Hit or Miss the Green
              Competitions
•             Halfway House
•             Raffle and Prize Giving

Contact: Alasdair Ramsay on alramsay@cricketforchange.org.uk for an entry form

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

MAIN SPONSOR
With this option your company name will be at the forefront on all promotional material for the day.  The package includes the following:-

One team in the Golf Tournament
Advertising space at the 1^st tee, 1^st hole, 18^th tee and 18^th hole
Participation in the presentation of the prizes

Cost of this package - £2500

SPONSOR A HOLE OR TEE

Place your advertising material at your chosen tee or hole for £100

For all sponsorship enquiries please call Alasdair Ramsay on 07528 940 022 or email alramsay@cricketforchange.org.uk

Challenge yourself with swimming, cycling and running all in one race. With a variety of different distances to choose from there is a race to suit everyone from a complete beginner to an experienced athlete. The event takes place in the ExCeL Centre in Newham, London – one of the boroughs in which Cricket for Change makes a difference in.

Individual Super Sprint (400m swim, 10km bike, 2.5km run)
Individual Sprint (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run)                                        

Team Relay Options (3 in a team): One swims, one cycles, one runs

Sprint Team Relay (750m swim, 20km cyle, 5km run)
Olympic Team Relay (1500m swim, 40km cycle, 10km run)

• Individuals: £75 registration fee and £750 minimum sponsorship
• Teams: £150 registration fee and £1,000 minimum sponsorship per team

The benefits you will receive fundraising for Cricket for Change:

• A Cricket for Change T shirt

• Personalised support from the C4C event team

Take your place now to start transforming lives today.

To register your interest then please get in touch with Alasdair Ramsay via alramsay@cricketforchange.org.uk or call 07528 940 022

This first event brings together teams from the Lord’s Taverners, the Berkeley Group and Cricket For Change who are all looking forward to being taken through some exciting street games by our newest recruits, the 'Street Elite'.

Let's Meet the Teams!

 
THE STREET ELITE TEAM (who co-ordinated the competition day)

 
             THE BERKELY GROUP                     THE LORD'S TAVERNERS


       CRICKET FOR CHANGE

Eager to start, the Street Elite team (as well as competing in the day) were each responsible for explaining, demonstrating, scoring, umpiring, officiating and leading the separate tournaments of; 5-a-side football, 'Street20 Cricket', 'Street Rugby 4’s' and Dodgeball - and so seeing as there was no heating on it was definitely time for the games to begin!

The first part of the day started with energetic rounds of 5-a-side football (led by Street Elite's, Abdul and Siobhan). There were some epic games on show and C4C came out on top winning 3-0 in a penalty shoot out against the Lord's Taverners after a brave 1-1 draw at the final whistle of normal time.

“I enjoyed meeting new people because I usually exclude myself from doing that. It brings more confidence to my game and myself” - 'Siobhan' from the Street Elite team

Spirits high and competitiveness revved up, the Street Elite built on this by moving onto 'Street20' cricket. Patiently guided by Rahem, Ali, and Sarlim several games got underway. The Street Elite team won this tournament by beating the C4C team at their own game!

Fired up and ready for some 'Street Rugby 4’s', Street Elite's, Shaddai, Bola and Yusuf expertly demonstrated the rules and basic tactics of the game. It was the Lord's Taverners who secured a well earned victory in this part of the day's events.

And so onto the final tournament of the day, where the Street Elite guys encouraged the now wilting teams into some, Dodgeball. The other teams hoped this would be a slower paced game but, Sulieman and Hasan (of Street Elite) showed that speed, agility and stamina is essential in Dodgeball! As the Street Elite team had this in bucket loads it meant they went onto win the Dodgeball final.

“Today’s session is so much fun. Lots of things to learn and the atmosphere was very friendly”  - Raheem from the Street Elite Team

The day was then finished with a well earned curry during which a happy silence descended on the tired and hungry teams as they tucked into their meals.

In terms of the Street Elite programme, the team are now closing in on the second phase of training, which involves them heading out onto the streets to deliver these various street sports on housing estates in their local areas.

All in all this was a brilliant day and was great to see how far the Street Elite Team has come in such a short space of time. They really excelled and grew with confidence as the day went on and really showed off their coaching skills adapting games as and when it was required.

Massive thanks to everyone who attended as every one had such a great day. Many thanks also to Si Ledwith (of Cricket for Change) for his hard work and guidance he puts into the Street Elite Team and programme.

At the start of the session (which was also attended by 'StreetChance' supporters, The Barclays Spaces for Sports team, who also brought along special guest that of Mrs Agius, who is the wife of Marcus Agius, Chairman of Barclays) the group were all captivated by a talk given on the dangers of getting involved with drugs from Paul Hannaford.

Paul spoke openly about the bad effects that drugs can have and raised an awareness of the dire consquences that being involved with drugs can lead to. This had a very profound effect on everybody present but most importantly the young people that there were that evening.

Speaking from the heart and through his experiences, it was with the manner and  tone in which Paul talked with the young people that made them understand and think deeply about what they were listening to.

The young people asked for a workshop like this and on this topic and boy did they get one.  This shows they are really aware of the world around  them and the positive and changing influence they are wanting to have on it.

This type of event also shows why ‘Street20’ cricket sessions act as a powerful and effective tool in engaging with young people.

The sessions allow for inspirational people like Paul to be invited along to an environment where the young people feel they can safely ask searching questions and get straight answers that will hopefully stop them from experiencing the curiosity of drugs first hand. This type of interaction gives them the power to say, no, to the damaging effects of drugs.

Also having spoken with some of the group it was clear for Mrs Agius (and the Barlcay’s Spaces for Sports team) to see and recognize how at home and comfortable these young people, from different backgrounds, Boroughs and cultures, are with each other by playing and being involved ‘Street20’ cricket.  

By Perry Sophocleous C4C - Development Coach

2011 again proved to a successful year in terms of the positive power, strength and impact of the programmes we ran and delivered (“C4C ‘kinda’ bought me out of gang life and has helped me a lot through life” - a Street20 participant) upon the lives of the young people who participated in those programmes.

Photographs covering our events and activities during 2011 can be viewed at our online image gallery.

All at Cricket for Change were extremely encouraged by your support which helped to make the year such a memorable one. We want to build on our success and reach out and help more disadvantaged young people which will need greater levels of support. 

We have a number of ways that you can get involved with Cricket for Change which are as follows:

• ’Play Your Part in it’  - Make a regular or one off donation to help to continue to change and transform young lives and we will keep you up to date with news of all our activities and programme.
• Become a Patron - Support the training of one of our young coaches (with regular updates on their development and work).
• Individually fundraise - Through organising an event (e.g. a quiz night) or taking on a fundraising challenge with some teammates / neighbours or friends from school, college, university or cricket club.
• Become a Corporate Supporter - Develop staff relationships and motivation by promoting C4C as charity of the year through your company or employer by taking on a team fundraising challenge or getting involved with some volunteering.
  
  This year's C4C Fundraising challenge is the London Triathlon in September and we have places available for you to take part and we are hosting another C4C Golf Day. 
• Cricket Centre and Indoor Cricket nets in Wallington, nr. Croydon - We have rooms available for hire for private functions or business meetings. There are also a number of sponsorship opportunities available at the Cricket Centre.
  
  Plus there are quality custom built Indoor Cricket Nets which provide an excellent opportunity for you or your club to hire out.  

Thank you again for your support and we look forward to growing our relationship with you in 2012.

FROM ALL THE TRUSTEES, STAFF AND YOUNG PEOPLE AT CRICKET FOR CHANGE


For details on any of the above opportunities please contact:

Alasdair Ramsay, Fundraising and Marketing Officer
E: alramsay@cricketforchange.org.uk
M: 07528 940 022
Tel: 020 8669 2177 

As I watch them play, practice, squabble in their utopia, my mind carries to the circumstances that have brought them together, as these lads do not originate from the local schools or community.  They have made the long, arduous, dangerous journey from the battlegrounds of Afghanistan to form the Refugee Cricket Project, a partnership between Cricket For Change and the Refugee Council.

For they have experienced the horrors or war, death and destruction; many have witnessed killings of family and friends, seen sights no teenager should see, and have fled their war-torn country to reach safety and security.   With them they have brought their passion for cricket, a sport inherited from their fathers who learned it when they were refugees in Pakistan thirty years before.   Cricket, not evolved over centuries in the gentle countryside of southern England, but forged and maintained with difficulty and passion through decades of fire and oppression.

The story of Afghanistan cricket is one of the most remarkable and inspiring in sport.   From the refugee camps, through turmoil, trauma, terrorism and Taliban, it was one man’s ambition and determination to build a national team.  The man: the authoritarian and obsessive Taj Malik.  The ambition: to compete with the best in a world cup. The achievement: despite internal personality clashes, raising the team five divisions in two years and appearing at the 2010 World 20/20 Cup in the West Indies. 

Like their seniors, the boys’ cricket may lack the finesse of the classic style, but the proud spirit is undeniable.  A typical example was the match last year against the MCC when 0 for 2wickets facing a 210 target.   The wicketkeeper, little higher than his pads, hit out with 66 in amazing colourful strokes, Tchaikovsky to the MCC’s textbook Bach.   The side went down by 18 runs but, with all guns blazing.  With these lads it’s death or glory.

This is mirrored in their bowling.  Fast and furious, everyone wants to be Malinga, although some useful spinners are coming through.

They are capable of higher innings as, on tour to the West Midlands last year, two centuries were scored; an unbeaten 151 by the captain and 116 from the indomitable wicketkeeper.   In 2010, they toured Scotland and, as well as sampling halal haggis, had the thrill of meeting their heroes, the Afghanistan international team.

Every Wednesday, straight from college or school, off come their uniforms etc, straight out in the middle, not a minute to be lost.   In bad weather or in winter, their evening continues in the magnificent indoor facilities.   Throughout the year, Danny will be teaching, encouraging, cajoling, criticising them.  And they will answer back in a disciplined and relaxed atmosphere of easy banter.

Scoring several of their matches, I enjoy being with these lads.  They always greet me very warmly, despite over forty years’ difference in our ages.

As the sun descends and the boys come in for their post-practice meal, my feeling is of pleasure at them enjoying their few hours of heaven.   It is also tinged with sadness for the prospects of those whose futures are so uncertain in the politics of immigration.   But all lives are constantly changing and, whether their futures lie in this country or they are returned to the cruelties of their homeland, they will look back with fond memories on those precious teenage times with Danny Baker at Cricket For Change.

By Richard Wiggins
24th December 2011

This story was written by Richard Wiggins, a friend of C4C and currently the Publicity Officer of the newly formed Essex Disability Cricket Association.

This was a week of global Sport For Development groups getting together to share ideas and network, where Adam was invited by Barclays Spaces For Sports to represent StreetChance London to take part in the discussions and pass on his thoughts and expereince.

Adam was on a panel titled, ‘Crime Reduction Through Sport’, where he sat alongside people from the Philadelphia Eagles Community youth scheme and Hope Academy SA.

The discussion revolved around how having links with local law enforcement agencies could create safer spaces for young people to feel safe and take part in sport thus lowerring crime in certain areas.

StreetChance London is a key working model of this, as they work very closely with the Metropolitan Police, to ensure that relationships on inner city urban estates are built and developed between the police and young people.

Adam said “Being in Cape Town is a great honour. It is great to show the world that in an extremely urban city like London that sport can break down barriers.

It’s been great sharing stories with Lord Paddy Ashdown, Tony Blair and all the other amazing people here doing great work around the world. It is great that we can be seen as a group of people leading the way in sport for development through cricket”

C4C would like to thank Barclays Spaces For Sports for inviting Adam to attend the Summit.

At the start of 2011 two world-leading sports charities, Cricket for Change and The Lord’s Taverners, came together to build a new three-year programme to put cricket and sport for development at the centre of changing young people's lives.

Here’s how it’s all going so far:

‘Street20’ programme:
Based in or around housing estates seriously affected by gangs and youth crime, ‘Street20’ cricket provides a platform for young people to learn about making a positive impact in their own communities. 

After the first year there are 46 sessions being delivered in Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle, Chelmsford, Basildon & and Brighton, Hastings & Crawley and they all have a full set of delivery partners.  There are 10 clubs in Bristol, 8 in Birmingham, 10 in Newcastle, 8 in Sussex and 10 in Essex.

So far over 500 participants and 350 sessions have been delivered and over 100 leaders have been trained.   

Scroll down the page to watch 'How to Play Street20'.

Want to get involved with Street20, contact:

ADAM HALL
Tel: 020 8669 2177   Mobile: 07545 565 993
E-Mail: adamhall@cricketforchange.org.uk

'Hit The Top' programme
Hit The Top (HTT) is a disability cricket programme that provides club-playing opportunities for young people (under 18) with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or visual impairment.  Through the joint venture partnership, HTT teams of young people with a disability from across the UK will play in local and national competitions for the very first time.

In the first year, Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire have all completed HTT training and have just started delivering sessions and plans are in place for Northumberland and Northamptonshire too.  For year 2, there are plans to set up HTT in Yorkshire, Hereford & Worcestershire and jointly in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.

These current and planned sessions are building upon the proven success of HTT in the past. HTT certainly improves self-esteem, confidence and independent mobility skills.

Want to get involved with Hit the Top, contact:

ANDY DALBY-WELSH
Tel: 020 8669 2177   Mobile: 07786238168
E-Mail: andydw@cricketforchange.org.uk

'Street Elite'
Supported by the Berkeley Group, is a unique ‘training for work’ programme which uses shortened forms of cricket, rugby and football to inspire disengaged young people back into education, training or employment.

'Street Elite' is now 6 weeks into the programme taking place on a weekly basis at Downside Fisher Youth Club, Bermondsey. There are 24 disadvantaged young people on the training course who represent 6 different London boroughs. The trainees are aged between 16 and 24 and have so far engaged extremely effectively.

Time is also spent talking to players on the sidelines about the contentious issues that they face in life, how they feel and how they are going to go about dealing with these problems.

Three of the group have already taken part in a Level 1 cricket coaching course plus all the participants will be delivering a range of activities on Monday 19th Dec. for a ‘Street Elite’ day.

To provide an idea of the kind of young people ‘Street Elite’ is working with, here is a story of one of the young people taking part in the programme:

Shazad (24), from Southwark, has recently been released from prison for robbery. He has a passion for sport but didn’t believe anyone would give him an opportunity because of his past. Shazad has shown a real commitment to the programme and will be an excellent addition to an organisation’s workforce in the near future.

Want to get involved with Street Elite, then contact:

SI LEDWITH
Tel: 020 8669 2177   Mobile: 07702490940
E-Mail: siledwith@cricketforchange.org.uk

For further details and information about the partnership, please contact:

James Salisbury – Press and anything else
Tel: 020 7821 2828   Email: james.salisbury@lordstaverners.org

Partnership Press Coverage

• Valentine's Day Success for Street20 in Colchester
• BBC Breakfast News shows 'Street20' making an impact on young lives

• Sarah Harris, Daily Mail on 15th March 2011, meets Adam Hall of Cricket for Change and learns about 'Street20' made an impact in his life.
  
  
  
  
• Hitting Gang Crime for six on the streets - Daily Telegraph - 17th Feb. 2011
  
• Partnership launched in Essex - Thurrock Gazette and Essex Echo on Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th March 2011
  
• Local BBC Essex Website - Wednesday 30th March 2011
•  

The trainees are aged between 16 and 24 and have so far engaged extremely effectively.

So far there has been an induction evening and three training sessions covering aspects of running an effective warm-up and how to run a sports session using dodge-ball. Dodge-ball is a great tool to use with NEET’s, as it provides a good energy release and is a great way to interact with one another.

'Street20' has also been introduced, which is the small sided version of cricket that is played on housing estates across London and now nationwide. The rules of play and the different roles within the game promote both leadership and organisational skills.

Time is also spent talking to players on the sidelines about the contentious issues that they face in life, how they feel and how they are going to go about dealing with these problems. The participants have understood the youth work element to 'Street20' and the fact that it is an engagement tool to access the non-cricketing mainstream.

One of the great benefits of Street Elite is the discovery of sporting talent within the programme. We have unearthed some very talented footballers, some of them of which we are trying to get trials for professional football clubs, while a couple of the boys are looking to join local cricket clubs in Hackney.

To provide an idea of the kind of young people Street Elite is working with, here is a story of one of the young people taking part in the programme:

Shaddai (24), from Southwark, has recently been released from prison for robbery. He has a passion for sport but didn’t believe anyone would give him an opportunity because of his past. Shaddai has shown a real commitment to the programme and will be an excellent addition to an organisation’s workforce in the near future.

"I wish C4C many more years of success and God Bless you for this great service rendered to the needy youth of the world".

Already promoting the charity in Sri Lanka, Roshan also provided a message of support, which was read out along with the announcement of his joining the charity at the 30th Anniversary dinner last month.

From everyone involved with C4C, we would like to welcome Roshan into the charity and look forward to having a long and fruitful partnership.

To read Roshan's message of support, click on the link below.

Standing on Portsmouth Promenade in the designated Green Zone along with 6,000 runners the reality suddenly struck - 10 miles of torture lay ahead. With 5 minutes until the start we were slowly ushered forward to join the other 19,000 runners in a huge mass being funnelled towards the start/finish line. The small figure of Ellen MacArthur came into sight and with a loud blast of an air horn we were off.

Mark giving it his all for C4C!

For the first mile, both sides of the track were lined with enthusiastic spectators, cheering and shouting encouragement. Approaching 2 miles, the cheers were replaced with the soft patting sound of trainers on tarmac, so familiar from the weeks of training. A depressing thought entered my head; the elite athletes were about to finish!

Just before 5 miles, the first water station. Beware if you haven't done a race before and its something you can't train for. Bottles being pushing at you from all angles, people cutting across you and bottles being thrown in all directions as runners take one sip and discard the rest. Total carnage!

At last I could settle into a rhythm and with the pockets of supports once again increasing, the final miles seemed to melt away.

But be prepared for the last 2 miles is along the seafront. Turning right out of a leafy suburban street you find myself battling the strong winds of the English Channel. It is the hardest part of race but with the encouragement of the crowds you push on. With 800 metres to go, a sprint finish was required and over the line. Job done and target time achieved.

A huge thank you to all who sponsored me and to the people of Portsmouth for their support along the course; it was a truly memorable experience!

C4C's Danny Baker also thrilled for the young lads said; "Congratulations to all of the Cricket for Change and Surrey cricketers that were selected (for the England Learning Difficulties tour to South Africa).  The boys have worked tirelessly on their cricket skills and fitness and I have no doubt that they will do the charity, county and country proud.”

The 14-man squad will play four 40-over matches against South Africa and Australia, with the two teams who amass the most points playing in the tournament final.

C4C's and Surrey's Jonathan Gale said he was, “Delighted and honoured and I am sure the other debutants will be very excited". 

He continues, "As soon as I was out of the training I was straight away on the phone to all of my family and friends. They had the same reaction as me, they were maybe more delighted if anything. Especially my dad, who has taken me to all the training sessions and matches in the last 18 months.”

“I’m still trying to calm down a bit over the excitement that’s still to come and I want to do the best I can and just enjoy it really”, he added.

Click on the picture to hear more from an excited Jonathan Gale!

Adapted from original story by Chris Devine on www.ecb.co.uk

ADAM IS SEATED ON THE FAR LEFT AT THE END

At this years conference, which also saw Archbishop Desmond Tutu in attendance, there were over 1600 young leaders from 170 countries, the most countries represented in any global event other than the Olympics. ‘One Young World’ delegates (of which Adam was one) are selected for their leadership potential of which many have already had an impact in their home countries on a range of issues, including the role of business in society, transparency in business and government, the impact of climate change, global health and hunger relief.

Adam spoke in the hour long panel about the great work C4C does all over the globe and how sport can play a major role in bringing divided communities together.

Adam said afterwards “It was great to speak to such a big audience and boast about all the great work we do at C4C. The subject matter (of the panel discussion) of using sport to bring together divided communities is exactly what we do through the medium of cricket. Many of the people in the audience could relate to sport as being something that has changed their mind set or even their futures.

Hopefully C4C will be invited to many more conferences such as this and by doing so showing that we are leading the way in the world of sport for social change”

Cricket for Change would like to thank Nick Keller (Founder of ‘Beyond Sport’) for inviting Adam to take part in the conference. 

‘One Young World’ is the game-changer where tomorrow's leaders start leading and acting to create the world they want and it is exciting to know that Cricket for Change is a part of that game.

Click on the logo to read more about ‘One Young World’

Guernsey is not a huge island with a population of only 65,000. It takes 25 minutes to drive from one end to the other and the unemployment rate is roughly 100 people out of 65 thousand. The fantastic sense of community is perfect for the development of disability cricket. 

Adam and I flew over to Guernsey on the 15^th of September for 3 days. A local opticians company called ‘Tru taud Opticians’ graciously funded our flights into Guernsey and are massively on board with what we are looking to develop.

Zoe Cousens, a Lady Taverner from Guernsey organised an amazing three days, during which we visited disability schools, local cricket clubs and met an array of magnificent people who want to help set up disability cricket in Guernsey.

‘Le Murier School’ students form first ever Guernsey disability cricket team

We first visited ‘Le Murier School’, in St. Sampson’s and spoke at their morning assembly about the work of C4C. We were asked lots of questions about what countries we have taken cricket to and how using cricket works in getting everyone in the community involved. It was a great start to a whole day of cricket with ‘Le Murier School’. The whole school took part in cricket session with us and the level of cricket and enthusiasm from every single young person was phenomenal.

It was clear that everyone wanted to be involved because ‘Le Murier School’ had to re-arrange their whole timetable to accommodate an extra session for one class who would have missed out. News of our visit spread through the school like wild fire which ended up with ‘Le Murier School’ wanting us to engage all their students not just certain classes.

Having now left our mark in this school, it will be many of these students that will become part of the first ever Guernsey disability cricket team.

They will have three cricket competitions locally in Guernsey each year whilst also representing Guernsey in one national disability tournament each year.

The Lady Taverners Silver Ball 25yrs celebration

We also attended a fantastic Silver Ball celebration, planned and co-ordinated by Zoe Cousens, where 400 people gathered to commemorate The Lady Taverners 25th anniversary.

Not only were Adam and I privileged enough to tell our stories at this event, we were also seated with the Governor of Guernsey the Queen’s representative and his wife, along with the Prime Minister of Guernsey.

PERRY SOPHOCLEOUS

With people like this on board developing disability cricket in Guernsey, we are sure to succeed and create an impactful programme, leaving a legacy in Guernsey that trails on through generations.

PERRY SOPHOCLEOUS AND ADAM HALL
 
Cricket for Change would like to thank Zoe Cousens for all her hard work and determination in helping us set up disability cricket in Guernsey.

As a coach in Edinburgh and having been involved in sports development programmes myself, I can appreciate the value that the programmes at C4C bring to disadvantaged individuals and communities, where they create a positive environment in which young people can flourish.

JOSS - HE's DONE IT!

I chose to fundraise for C4C because of this as I believe that that first time participation and development opportunities should be made available to all, regardless of past or present circumstances.

I managed to complete the cycle in 13 days, averaging around 72 miles and 6 hours in the saddle a day. The trip was full of many high and low, rough and smooth experiences, from the spectacular views over the Devon Moores and Scottish Mountains to the spectacular crashes and saddle sores in The Lake District.

One cracked rib later and I’m delighted not only be back home resting but also to have raised over £600 for Cricket for Change. Money that I know will put to very good use by everyone involved with the charity. 

I’d like to thank everyone who helped me surpass my original £500 target and I’d like to thank C4C for allowing me to represent their organisation.

To celebrate and bring this youth energy to the world, Cricket for Change, Emergency Happiness and The Centre for Social Brilliance, are collaborating to create The Youth Brilliance Conference in London on the 1st October 2011. 

The conference will bring together many voices and expressions of this new youth energy so people from across the globe can experience and connect with its creative and collaborative potential. The Youth Brilliance Conference, has the vision of unleashing the brilliance in our youth today so that they come alive to generate a brilliant new future for us all.

The conference gathers together inspiring young people like Adam Hall, an ex youth offender from East London, now Development Manager at Cricket for Change, which transforms the lives of young people through the medium of cricket, unleashing their potential so they are shaping a vibrant and connected world that is the future young brilliance. 

In the past we have chosen to allow social challenges like youth unemployment and disengagement to bog us down; however this paradigm is rapidly shifting to one where instead, we are witnessing many young people stepping up and using the current economic and social climate as an opportunity to do things differently, work in new ways and connect to their visions.

Youth energy is something that people of all ages and cultures can embody and harness to connect to each other and the world in new and vibrant ways. It is truly an amazing time for society to be young and play big.

Find out more by going to www.youthbrilliance.com or contact: Jackie Thoms - Jackie@socialbrilliance.org

‘Inclusive and Active 2’ has been created in partnership between the Greater London Authority (GLA), NHS London and Interactive. With a vision of active disabled Londoners, it aims to increase participation levels of disabled people, change the perception of disabled people being active and embed sport and physical activity within the mainstream provision.

For further details please contact, Andy Dalby-Welsh, C4C Director of Programmes on 0208 669 2177 or e-mail andydw@cricketforchange.org.uk

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON C4C'S 'HIT THE TOP PROGRAMME

The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH, 30th Anniversary Patron and Phil Tufnell, President of Cricket for Change, hosted by Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan MBE

Venue: At a prestigious City of London venue

Tickets to include:
Champagne Reception
Three Course Dinner with Half a Bottle of Wine

Individual - £150     Table of 10 - £1,500

Corporate sponsorship oppportunities also available

To reserve your table at the dinner download the booking form below and return to Julia Pearce Events on julia.pearce@jmp.u-net.com or call 020 8340 8755

The successful day was enjoyed by everyone who took part and you can get a taste of what the day was like from this coverage on ITV's West Country Tonight:

Chris Drummond from Essex Cricket Board, passed on his appreciation for the day and also some comments from the team from Braintree, who said they ‘loved playing and watching the better teams and wished to continue the sessions, as they want to return next year and ‘beat the better teams’.

There were also some words of gratitude and enjoiyment from the staff at the City Academy, who stated, "that (it) was the best youth event held at The City Academy ever and the event was very well run".

Watch this space as more news on the day will follow!

In a joint statement, the partners describe how the riots in UK have deepened their resolve to use sport as a positive force:

“Like most people in Britain, we were shocked and saddened by the ugly scenes in London and other UK cities earlier this month. We have spent the past three years working with young people in the most deprived areas of London; near many of the trouble hot-spots.

Week in, week out throughout the year our coaches meet, connect with and listen to hundreds of young people during StreetChance community sessions across London. The results have been encouraging.   In a recent survey, 69% of community participants say 'StreetChance' has helped make them act more responsibly, while 60% of participants say 'StreetChance' has helped them avoid getting involved with local gangs. The majority of young people we speak to are equally shocked and disgusted by the acts of a minority of their peers.

The ‘outreach hour’ at the end of each community session has successfully encouraged young people to open up and discuss with coaches the issues that concern them.

Similarly, the ‘Peace at the Crease’ events where police officers from local Safer Neighbourhood Teams play alongside young people have really helped to build bridges: 89% of police officers involved say 'StreetChance' has helped increase their rapport with young people. Not only does it give police officers an opportunity to discuss issues like stop and search, drug and alcohol abuse, gangs, knife and gun crime; it also makes them more approachable to children when they are back on the estate.

'StreetChance' is making a real difference, both to young people and to communities in London. 

As we prepare to take the programme to a further six cities, we are determined to use the foundation we’ve built over the past three years across the UK, first, to help understand the reasons behind the riots and then to help make sure they never happen again.”

C4C run many projects around the world to help disabled and disadvantaged youngsters improve their lives through a number of innovative forms of the game.

Their Chief Executive, Andy Sellins, was unable to join our group as he was taking “street cricket” to Harlem for the first time but he was ably replaced by the unbelievably enthusiastic Danny Baker (C4C Training Manager), who was in between trips to India and Afghanistan.

For an hour and a half we shared life experiences with our guests, telling them a little bit about what we do  and listening to stories about how they had got here and how C4C had helped them. Some of the stories were humbling to say the least and one of them is attached if you feel like reading it.

None of the boys had experienced the operation of a big office like ours before and they were wide eyed at some of the things they saw, especially the gym. They enjoyed a tour of the office and some lunch in TLC before departing for prayers and giving us time to change into our outdoor kit.

If the first part of the day had been humbling, we were in for a shock when we saw their skills on the field.

Street Cricket ('Street20') is played with a taped-up tennis ball which all the boys were able  to create  in minutes of magical finger work and can be played an a really confined space. It also acts as a breeding ground for amazing hand eye coordination which we experienced as the boys smashed the ball miles into the air with the bat and delivered it with unerring accuracy past our flailing attempts to hit it.

We mixed up the group and everyone who took part agreed that we had had our enthusiasm and energy  for life reinvigorated by our short time with the boys. We will all do something similar again and the boys have challenged us to some “proper cricket”.

Whatever happens, it won’t be our last experience of working with C4C.

Thanks to all who helped and got involved.

DANNY SMITH - TOWRY

I am delighted and greatly relieved to report that the expedition to climb the three highest peaks of the UK took place over the weekend of 6th and 7th August was a great success. It amounted to nearly 11,000 ft climbed, 26 miles walked, 17 hours on our feet and (including airport and drive back to London) over 20 hours with 15 people crammed into a minibus.

A brief match report........

The weather varied enormously on each climb and Ben Nevis was a dream start with perfect conditions.

The 15 challengers on top of Ben Nevis

This was followed by an enormously long drive to Scafell Pike, where we started the ascent in the dark as conditions and light got progressively worse. By the time we were less than half way up we were in total darkness, in very thick cloud with rain so heavy that even with head torches you could barely see your own boots.

Shortly after reaching the summit (of Scafell Pike) we accidentally stumbled across a group of 7 walkers who were out on a 'work outing' and had been lost at the summit for some time. We couldn't shake them off until the car park. In the car park at about 1.00am we struck up conversation with an Italian family who wanted advice from our guide as to what route they should take to the summit at which point they produced a road map to get his advice.

Reaching the summit of Scafell Pike in the dark

Snowdon was uneventful but emotional as we reached the end and was definitely the closest I got to doing a Paula Radcliffe at the Athens Olympics. This wasn't helped by another walker who asked me to take his photo and made me repeat my final ascent with him so he could have the right backdrop (I hope he enjoys the photo of his left ear and sky). I was just too tired to protest.

At last - Snowdon - now back down the minibus!

I learnt many things from this weekend and I thought I might share a few of them with you readers:

-  I believe Cricket for Change is a great charity that does amazing work and I was left deeply impressed by all the people from the charity who came with us. Special mention from this team must go to Andy Dalby-Welsh, Cricket for Change's Director of Operations, who is blind. I cannot begin to describe how difficult it is to get down a mountain with no sight, under time pressure, while so reliant on largely inept and exhausted fellow walkers. An inspirational man (even if a little careless with his personal safety).

-  If you are ever offered the opportunity to spend the weekend travelling by mini bus around the UK then decline it without hesitation. In our case, it worked entirely to our advantage. Whatever time of day or night, whatever the weather, we were desperate to get out and delighted to climb the next mountain.


That Minibus!

- Be nice and polite to everyone who passes you on Ben Nevis on a Saturday morning because you will meet them again and again.

- there is a modest fortune to be made setting up mobile massage parlours (all above board you understand) that also feed you hot food in the car parks of Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon.

- it is OK to (over)eat Macdonald's at a service station (after doing the 3 peaks) but you will feel slightly dirty afterwards.

Once again, a massive thanks to everyone who has pledged support.

Until the next one!

(Still time to donate by following the link on the picture below)

It was a week-end of training for people from these organisations to learn about ‘Street20’ cricket and to be inspired to use it within their development programmes. One of the days, Adam Hall, C4C Development Manager, delivered a session to around 20 young people from the upper west side of Manhattan in New York.

Adam (Hall) said, “Cricket isn’t a natural sport in the US as baseball is very similar. However, the young people picked up the game very quickly and couldn’t stop playing. This just proves to us that ‘Street20’ is an amazing tool to get young people who know nothing about cricket engaged and into the game.

They also understood and picked up the youth work games very well which is obviously very important for us to integrate within our ‘Street20’ sessions to aid social changes.

‘Street20’ has the potential to take New York City by storm with the support of Play Rugby USA, NYPD and USACA”.

The coaches also learnt how to deliver youth games within ‘Street20’ sessions. New York has some highly charged territorial issues very similar to London and the youth work games that C4C bring to ‘Street20’ sessions often help combat a lot of these issues.

Kip O’ Rouke-Brown from Play Rugby USA, said, “We really appreciate you (C4C) coming over here to conduct the Street20 training.  It was very productive and served as a great beginning to a collaborative partnership that will benefit both organizations and the city of New York.  

The coaches feedback was very positive and they felt they learned a lot about the game of cricket and especially Street20 using youth work to engage hard to reach kids. We look forward to working together in the near future as opportunities present themselves”.

Cricket for Change would like to thank Mark Griffin at Play Rugby USA for supporting C4C to get to New York City to start this exciting new development.

This was followed by a Q&A Session with England and Middlesex Fast Bowler, Steven Finn; Chief Executive of The Cricket Foundation, Wasim Khan and Cricket for Change Coach, Alex Bassan. They all spoke about the difference ‘StreetChance’ makes and the inspirational experiences they have encountered through ‘StreetChance’.

Following a short break, it was time for the main awards presentations to begin. These were presented by Surrey and England’s, Jade Dernbach, who shared his memory of playing tapeball cricket at school and what it feels like playing for England.  

The winners of this year’s awards were:

(1)    Young Leader Of The Year – Ellie Malin, Sutton Girls

(2)    Volunteer Of The Year – Khaled Khan, Tower Hamlets and Lambeth

(3)    Player Of The Year – Pravin Perera , Waltham Forest

(4)    Peace At The Crease – William Morris SNT, Priory Court

(5)    Coach Of The Year – Donovan Miller, Cricket for Change

(6)    Special Recognition – Jaffer Boalch, Southwark StreetChance, Head of Young Ambassador and Cricket for Change Apprenticeship 2010/11 graduate.

Donovan Miller, winner of the Coach of the Year Award, was voted on by youngsters at inter-borough cricket competitions, the award recognised the coach who had made the greatest impact on participants this year. The young people described Miller as making them ‘feel at home’, while ‘building up trust’ and injecting a culture of cricketing progression, responsibility and above all, enjoyment. 


Donovan Miller, C4C Coach - 'StreetChance' Coach of the Year - award presented by England and Surrey's, Jade Dernbach.

After collecting his award, Miller paid tribute to the 'StreetChance' participants saying, “I feel proud to win the award and most of all I’d like to dedicate the award to all the young people who turn up to the community sessions, on some cold wet and winter nights, every week right through the year. It’s a massive effort and this award should go back to them.”

Everyone that won an award was well applauded and everyone that one an award deserved it without a doubt.  The final and emotional words of the night came from, Jaffer Boalch, bringing tears to the eyes of the listening audience and so ending a very successful awards with a lot of hard working people getting the recognition and praise that they deserve.

Jaffer Boalch, 17yrs of age, receiving the Special Recognition Award from Kirk Harrison, Head of Barclays Spaces for Sports. 

Well done to everyone that one an award and a special thank you to The Cricket Foundation for hosting on such a wonderfully encouraging evening.

Click here to read about the 'StreetChance' Development Squad tour to Bolton.

Click here to read more about the 'StreetChance' awards

In just one 24hr period, they will climb and travel between the tallest mountains in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon). The distance walked will be around 25 miles; the height climbed around 10,000 feet.

The group will consist of Rebecca Redding, Philip Redding, Irene Smith, Stacey Ali, Charles Vallance, Alex Clode, Andy Sellins, Andy Dalby-Welsh, Alex Bassan, Donovan Miller, Perry Sophocleous and Navjeet Sira.

The challenge will be great and the training tough but the group know that their ‘Herculian’ efforts will raise a tremendous amount of much needed funds for C4C.

Rebecca (Redding) from Thomas’ School comments:

“The team form Thomas's Clapham are excited about completing a year of fundraising for Cricket for Change by attempting this challenge.

Training is well underway with a few visits to the physio to help with the various injuries picked up as a result of the bodily shock of physical activity. There has been much banter but underlying this bravado is a real commitment to the challenge and raising as much money as possible for C4C.

It will not be easy and we are very nervous but we hope we can make a difference with the money we raise. Wish us luck!”

To make a supporting donation please click on the image below.

Donations can be made before and after the challenge has taken place.

Click on the play button to hear from a few of the happy Apprentices!

Current Apprenticeship and Hit the Top Peer Leader, Daniel Mynott, said, “This year has really helped me fully understand coaching and now I feel happy travelling around London, I hope to one day work full time with the charity”.

The full list of the 2010/11 Apprentices are: Asif Mohammedi, Matiullah Haidar, Ajabgul Khan and Sirat Shirali, Simon Marsden, Ruzivo Kamuriwo, Charlie Stack, Jasmine Patel, Ryan Jones, Daniel Mynott, Craig Wadey, Jaffer Baloch, Mujtaba Faisi, David Smith, Ryan May, Sam Owen and Daniel Lineker.

The Cricket for Change Apprenticeship scheme is also supported by the 'StreetChance' project, the Lloyds Foundation and Youth of Today.

Interested
If you or anyone you know are interested in becoming an apprentice, then follow this link and download an application form or for further information please do get in touch with Danny Baker.

If you would like some further details, please contact:

Danny Baker
Development and Training Manager
E-mail: dannybaker@cricketforchange.org.uk
Mobile: 07796266212

         

'Street Elite', launched at the House of Lords on the 5th July, is a new three year national initiative that will be run by leading youth charities, Cricket for Change, The Lord's Taverners with the core funding being provided by The Berkeley Group.

'Street Elite' has been specifically designed to harness the power of cricket, rugby and football to transform the lives of disadvantaged young people.  

Street Elite's primary focus is on using sport to help tackle disadvantage.  The initial phase in London will give 4,000 young people living in 12 housing estates in 6 boroughs the opportunity to work as a team, play by the rules and make positive choices about their lives.

The programme is also designed to create a workforce of young coaches and will specifically develop and train motivated young coaches to run projects in their local communities.

Andy Sellins, Chief Executive of Cricket for Change, said, "In our 30th year, Cricket for Change is really thrilled to be working with the Berkeley Group and The Lord's Taverners to deliver 'Street Elite'.

Recent government figures (Feb. '11) show that there are 1,026,000 young people in the UK not in education, employment or training ('NEETS'). 'Street Elite' is one of the first times that a multi-sports programme has been used to create pathways out of poverty for these young people.

Andy adds, "This programme, using multi-sport, is a fantastic way of engaging young people who have disengaged from mainstream education. It allows them to gain new skills and improve their prospects".

Rob Perrins, Managing Director of The Berkeley Group, said, "The Berkeley Group is delighted to be associated with this innovative programme, devised by The Lord's Taverners and Cricket for Change. Berkeley's success is defined by the places we create and the success of the communities in which we operate. We firmly believe that 'Street Elite' can make a profound difference to the lives and future prospects of the young people it touches and their communities."

Matthew Patten, Chief Executive of The Lord's Taverners said, "The Berkeley Foundation's generous support will have a huge impact on the lives of thousands of youngsters and the communities in which they live".

This partnership with these two youth charities, is one of the new Berkeley Foundation's first major initiatives.

The three-year partnership will use the country’s favourite sport to teach 11,000 disadvantaged children in Mumbai and Delhi about the core values of health, respect, gender equality and education. 

Trainers are also aiming to make an impact on local communities by helping participants to develop their personal, social and leadership skills.

Barclays Spaces for Sports’ UK charity partner Cricket for Change is supporting Magic Bus in integrating cricket into its curriculum of sport programme.

Andy Sellins, Chief Executive, Cricket for Change, concluded: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with two organisations who are leading the way in using sport to tackle social problems and our experience of developing programmes in some of the most challenging situations in the world will bring great practical knowledge to this three-way partnership.”

Kirk Harrison, Head, Barclays Spaces for Sports, said: “We are delighted to be entering into a strategic partnership with Magic Bus, the leading ‘sport for development’ NGO in India, on this groundbreaking and exciting street cricket programme.

“The three-year programme will bring life skills to thousands of disadvantaged Indian youths in both Mumbai and New Delhi via the platform of street cricket, as well as leave a lasting legacy in the local communities via the training of local leaders.

“Barclays Spaces for Sports and Magic Bus share a common ethos in how ‘sport for development’ programmes should be structured with gender equality, the right to education, focused measurement and evaluation and sustainability as core components of this initiative.”

Matthew Spacie, CEO and Founder, Magic Bus, added: “We believe that our sport-based programme has immense ability to empower children in various areas. We have chosen to focus on the areas of education, gender, health and livelihood because these are major levers of social development.

“Every child coming into the programme is a triumph for us and seeing them stay with us to emerge as confident, purpose-driven youth is the highest reward.

“The only way we can reach our objectives is through partnerships – partnerships with youth, with parents, with community coordinators and with corporates. It cannot only be our cause – it has to be theirs too, which is why I’m delighted Barclays Spaces for Sports have chosen to support Magic Bus’ new street cricket programme.”

Barclays Spaces for Sports is part of Barclays community investment programme and utilises the Group’s expertise in sports sponsorship. The £37.5m global programme uses the power of sport to revitalise disadvantaged communities, tackle key social issues, and develop vital life skills.

Experience the energy and stories of two dynamic young people, Cricket for Change's very own, Adam Hall plus Sabirul Islam who have transformed the lives of many young people!

Playing boldly, inspiring others, touching all in society & bringing out the best. This is what the youth are up to in the world today!

When: 21st of June 2011 from 6:00-8:00pm

Where: Lord Taverners, 10 Buckingham Place, London SW1E 6HX.
Nearest Tube: Victoria

How much: £10.00 per person and will include refreshments
Booking: Click on Youth Brilliance

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE ABOUT THE EVENT

• To empower young people to achieve their potential.
• To give young people an experience of working in partnership with a world leading cricket development agency assisting their transition into working life.
• Progress to possible employment opportunities on Cricket For Change’s StreetChance project.
• Inspire other individuals from similar backgrounds to follow a similar path.
• Increase the capacity of Cricket For Change and the StreetChance projects so they can provide more opportunities for young people to learn and play cricket in a safe environment.

The Apprenticeship has three main areas of work:

1.    Training courses
2.    Apprentices group work and workshops
3.    Coaching hours in the field

The 2010/11 Apprentices graduates on the 14th July 2011 at C4C's Cricket Centre.

For more detailed information about what the Apprentices get involved in or to see an application form, then please download the information via the links below.

Martyn said; "Depsite some minor bumps and bruises it was really enjoyable and left me with some fantastic stories to tell as well!"

This was a charity cycle ride with a difference....it was at night!  Martyn went on the 100km moonlit ride through London while the capital slept and raised much needed funds for C4C.

The challenge started Crystal Palace in south east Londonat 11.10pm (11th June) and finished about 7.30am on Sunday morning (12th June) for a well earned breakfast.

Martyn's actual cycle time was only 5 hours 40 mins which wasn’t too bad for various reasons. The total time consisted of:

5hrs 40mins – Riding Time
50 mins – scheduled breaks
40 minutes – repairing punctures (of a cycling friend - not mine!)
1hr 20mins – STUCK AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR IN TRAFFIC!

Despite the 'traffic light stops', Martyn ticked off along the way a number of London's most famous streets and landmarks.
 
Thank you, Martyn, on behalf of everyone involved with Cricket for Change.

For more information on the NIGHTRIDER™ challenge then click on the logo below

Sadly, with the weather forecast always threatening that play would be disrupted, heavy rain, thunder and lightening brought the event to a premature close and no team having completed the 18 holes.

An earlier than expected return to the clubhouse gave former C4C trustee and MC for the evening, Roger Dakin, a longer time to entertain many frustrated golfers.

This he did admirably, introducing himself as the former Great Britain Olympic hockey goalkeeper and sharing many amusing tales and observations of his sporting life, and announcing the prizes for the day and acting as auctioneer/fund raiser.

With play being curtailed and all teams completing 9 holes, the winning team was decided on the team score over the first nine holes.

Team prizes and individual awards:



Winners: UGGS – Jason Gale, Simon Hunt, Mark Jacobs, John Leadley





2nd: The CEO's – Andy Sellins, Andy Dalby Welsh, Nick Pink, Samuel Jennings





3rd: The Towry Substitues – Danny Smith, Duncan Horner, Malcolm Edwards, Brian Holmes


Nearest the Pin: Gavin Graham
Longest Drives: Ian Hodgson (men) Jane Tait (women)
Wooden Spoon: Alan Jarvis

The response to the event was very favourable – such that we are already beginning to plan for the second C4C Golf Day in 2012.

“Many thanks for organising such a great day yesterday - you did very well!!… I shall certainly 'spread the word' for C4C amongst my cricketing friends and hope that they will add to their support”

“Great day even with the rain and we seemed to do quite well out of it!”

 …and finally …. and most importantly … a big thank you to all who contributed to the day’s success – donors, players, Julia Pearce Events, Roger Dakin and the directors & staff of Wimbledon Park Golf Club and all involved from C4C.

Six teams from across Essex took part on this sunny day in Basildon:

Southend Soldiers
Southend Masters
Grays Giants
Grays
Clacton
Basildon

The teams played Street20 against each other for the first time, with the top four teams playing in competitive semi finals before the grand final.

There was some great excitement from all the young people playing, with Cameron from Clacton saying: “This is the first time we have played in a Street20 competition and it is brilliant, I hope we win!”

The semi finals line up was as follows:

Southend Soldiers vs Grays
Southend Masters vs Grays Giants

In the first game Southend Soldiers hit an incredible 87 off 20 balls. In reply, Grays could only reach 45, sending the Soldiers through to the final to meet their city rivals, Southend Masters having chased the Grays Giants total (38) in just 15 balls.

The two Southend teams battled it out in an exciting grand final, with the Soldiers successfully chasing the Masters’ score of 31 to be crowned Essex Street20 Champions.

The Lord’s Taverners and Cricket for Change would like to thank local partners Essex Cricket for their support with the running of this great competition. The next Essex 'Street20' competition will be held in August.

Background

Since Cricket for Change (C4C) came to Sierra Leone (SL) in 2008 when they set up ‘Street20’ cricket with the Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA ) the game has continued to grow with support from local NGO Manager, Francis Mason and from charity worker, David Turner (DT), who has been living in Freetown for the last five years .

DT has continued the work with physically challenged (PC) youths, both male and female, in the east of Freetown where they live. DT notes that, at the moment there are around 35 people in 4 teams, with the majority of players being victims of war (which ended in 2002) or of polio. All of them show great enthusiasm in what is for them a very strange sport.   As one PC boy said to DT; “We are now teaching young boys about cricket and that’s coming from a cripple”! (His words not mine, stresses DT!).

No monies exist for tournaments but DT's desire is to look at setting up a league of 5 teams and hopefully some long term sponsorship. But in a country where football is seen as the only sport to support, cricket is sometimes a hard sell.

STREET CRICKET IN SCHOOLS

DT is working with the SLCA in taking ‘Street cricket’ into schools in the east of Freetown which is poorest part of the city. DT says that work is also being done on taking game to girls and so for the first time cricket is being seen by the masses. Any future funding could help make cricket the second sport, after football.

Since war caused so many people to have suffered the experience of forced amputations, a local organization started to support them by setting up amputee football team and they have played football across world over the last three years.

DT says that we have introduced ‘Street Cricket’ to them over the last few months and already we have identified great interest in this easy to play form of cricket .

Working with a blind school in Freetown  

Since C4C introduced the idea of ‘Blind Cricket’, DT regularly visits a blind school called, Milton Margi, named after first president of the country in Freetown. The school has around 50 girls and boys who live in school up to age of 18. David has seen the students playing the game, having a great day and boys and girls playing together.  The desire is to take cricket to 3 other blind schools across the country but again dependent on funds.

A partnership has begun with the National Blind Association, which supports persons over school age. It is very sad to see men and women who cannot afford medical treatment for cataracts become blind but our small cricket intervention has given them so much hope.      

SUPPORT FOR THE FUTURE

DT feels that more support is needed on coaching not so much technical but training on the use of cricket as tool for life, the type of skills training that Cricket for Change is renowned for delivering.

There also needs to be strong advice on how to build and develop structures to sustain the groups that DT has been talking about through competitions and leagues and perhaps spread similar experiences from Milton Margi school to four other blind schools across the country.

Overall, cricket in Sierra Leone is improving with the national team performing well in ICC tournaments and slowly more schools are playing the game.  

DT feels that a further small visit from Cricket for Change, can act as catalyst again to find local and international support.

David’s desire and hope is summed up by him in this last paragraph;

“I have seen great love of playing sport and cricket but all activities are being supported by myself and I would like to set up street cricket association employing handicapped men and women to take street cricket to schools.

For them to be role models for other handicapped persons to show positive opportunities exist for them in a country where majority of population live on $1 a day and with an estimated 60 % unemployment.

Therefore, a job with just small incentive as a salary can help a whole family and really bring tangible changes to a person’s life”.

Watch more on C4C's visit in 2008 in the film below:

TTASPE is the leader in physical education, sport for development and community sport programming throughout the Caribbean. TTASPE’s mission is to provide leadership and support to those who work with children, youth and persons with disabilities in sport and physical education programs.

Tash Felix from Mt D’or is one of the Citizens Security Program Community Coaches and is very eager to bring the ‘Street20’ concept to her community; “It is not only cricket we learned this week, we learned how to engage our communities and bring positive vibes. I think it will bring my community together and help build stronger relationship within my area.”

‘Street20’ was introduced to Trinidad as a crime reduction program after its success in the reduction of crime in urban communities in the UK.  It is the hoped that through this workshop a programme will be developed that will succeed in engaging marginalized young people in a year round programme of cricket coaching, competition and workshops aimed at building skills and self confidence.

“The more kids play the more skills they develop, they learn cooperation, discipline and working with a team without getting angry it has had a lot of success bringing communities together in England”, explains Donovan Miller, Development Officer with Cricket for Change.

Further comment came from a young leader from the MILAT programme who explained; “Youth now-a-days are either watching TV, on the internet or just relaxing at home, I think this program will give them more exercise, get them outdoors, it is a lot of fun. I think this program could bring together my community as right now it is a little broken up, it really has been a great training”.

The ‘Street20’ workshop was sponsored through a network of partners including TTAPSE, the Citizens Security Program, Cricket for Change, MYPART and MILAT, British Airways, UK Sport and the Australian Sports Commission.

20 young people participated in the workshop and there are plans to continue to support community sport based training throughout Trinidad and Tobago to ensure sport can be brought back to the community level.

About Citizens Security Program
The Citizen Security Programme (CSP) is an initiative of the Ministry of National Security whose objective is that of contributing to the reduction in crime and violence in twenty-two (22) ‘high needs’ pilot communities in Trinidad and Tobago, through community-led collaborative initiatives. For more information about CSP please visit www.csp.gov.tt

About the Military Led Academic Training Programme (MILAT)
MILAT is an academic program designed for young men between the ages of 16-20 years to fulfil the Certification Examination Council (CXC) and bridge the gaps for those young adults who may wish to pursue academic disciplines as well as social transformation of behaviour in a highly structured and regulated environment.

About the Military Led Youth Programme of Apprenticeship and Re-Orientation Training (MYPART)
MYPART is a program designed to expose, train, develop and certify young persons’ between the ages of 16-20 years in technical or vocational disciplines in a highly structured and regulated academic and/or skills based training environment whilst inculcating in them the values of acceptance of personal responsibility and social respect for authority.

Jimmy has been involved with the charity since 'The Courtney Walsh Foundation' was set up by C4C in Jamaica in 2009, on which Jimmy comments:

C4C is having a tremendous impact in Jamaica through its  use of cricket as a vehicle for social intervention. In working with young offenders, the disabled and the visually impaired, C4C is making a tangible, distinct and hugely positive impact on sections of the society that have struggled to gain recognition over the years.

He continues by saying;

This upliftment through sport, with many who have been previously marginalised in our country, has had the undeniable effect of helping to strengthen communities throughout the island and I am honoured to be associated both with the work being done through C4C and those engaged in fulfilling its mandate.

Cricket for Change are delighted to have Jimmy on board and look forward to working more closely with such a great addition to the charity's work and activity.

JIMMY ADAMS - West Indies and C4C Patron

To read and watch more about 'The Courtney Walsh Foundation' then please follow the links below:

 - Making a Difference

The 'Real Futures' programme teaches young people about how to develop the right mindset for happiness and success by building skills like confidence, self-awareness and emotional control. Throughout the 6 week programme, our Apprentices explored topics like the power of positivity, setting real goals that you want to achieve and creating empowering beliefs about themselves and the world. 

At the end of 'Real Futures', five of the C4C Apprentices, Charlie Stack, Sam Owen, Jafer Baloch, Daniel Mynott and Ryan Jones all joined C4C's Danny Baker, Andy Dalby-Welsh, Euan Smith from Sky and Genevieve Boast from Emergency Happiness to speak at the 'World Alive Conference', being hosted by the 'Centre for Social Brilliance' in London.

They ran a session that blew the conference attendees away and brought many to tears as they shared from the heart their own personal stories of success. 

Manisha Dahad, Founder Centre for Social Brilliance said;

“Cricket for Change and Emergency Happiness have brought alive a collaboration where the brilliance of all parties shines so effortlessly! 

This was evident at the World Alive Conference in London earlier in 2011, where the story of the evolving partnership between Emergency Happiness, Sky and Cricket for Change transformed, touched and impacted not only the Apprentices from Cricket for Change but also the employees of Sky.

The collective power of bringing people from different backgrounds and cultures created a new opening for all which allowed the true meaning of relationships to emerge.  What an amazing achievement!"

The new RCP coaches were in action almost immediately with the very first Afghan Premier League (APL) being staged (20th April) at C4C's Cricket Centre, Plough Lane, Wallington.

The 32 players involved in the were all auctioned off (as in the Indian Premier League) by the RCP's Head Coach, C4C's Danny Baker. As for the rest of the day's activities it was the RCP players and now coaches who were in full control.

The matches in the APL were each 8 a side and with game averaging 4 sixes which is a fantastic way to approach cricket. The event was won by Afghan United with a 1 wicket victory against the Dragons.

The day was a great success along with a number of cricket balls being lost. C4C are always on the look out for any old (or new) cricket kit and equipment, so if you would like to donate something to the charity, then please contact us on office@cricketforchange.org.uk or on 020 8669 2177.

This new local fanatsy cricket league will not only raise awareness (and funds) of the work of C4C to more people around the country but also give club cricketers the chance to outwit their team-mates and rival clubs in managing the best fantasy local cricket club.

This year, the competition will initially cover leagues from the West & North Midlands, which houses 100’s of clubs from the Birmingham & District Premier League and North Staffs & South Cheshire ECB Premier Leagues, as well as a feeder leagues Cicada Staffs Club Championship and Marstons Shropshire Premier.

It is hoped that in the the future this Fantasy League will be expanded to the other leagues around the country.

Greg Wright, ClubCric founder, said he hopes club cricketers will jump on the idea for a good cause; “This is a big thing for us as a new site which is testing untried waters,” he said.

“A big part of our mission is to use our exposure online to put something back into grass roots sport, cricket clubs and organisations like Cricket for Change.

Fantasy cricket is great fun and now players and followers of club cricket can put on their own captains hat and raise money for a great cause at the same time.”

Teams are picked using players from each league with prices based on their previous season performance. Users can enter as many teams as they wish and make weekly transfers.

Andy Sellins, Cricket for Change Chief Executive, said the idea can help more youngsters to get involved in cricket:

“This is a very exciting time for the charity and our work with young people with a disability and young people at risk of becoming involved with crime and anti social behaviour is in great demand."

“It is really important to us that cricket fans all over the country get to hear about the work we do using the great game of cricket which is so well suited to involving marginalized young people, so this new partnership with Clubcric is very timely.”

Throughout the day, the players were saying how much they enjoyed playing new people from different clubs as a lot of the players play in their County teams and so it was good that they could play against people with different types of abilities. From talking to the parents as well the biggest difference noticed was the improvement in the standard of cricket from the year before.

On the V.I. pitch we had a mini-County tournament going with Kent, Essex and Middlesex. With Essex having some very experienced players smashing the ball over the boundary, Middlesex and Kent showed the great enthusiasm they had with some good young talent coming through.  In the Mixed Ability league here was some fantastic cricket, with 4’s and 6’s being hit, wickets being taken, run outs and the odd one handed catch too!      As we neared the end of the day the results started to come in.

In the V.I. competition, the final was between Essex and Middlesex. Essex got a few too many runs on the board as Middlesex struggled, so making the Essex the victors.

Kent weren’t left empty handed but they took home the ‘Sporting Achievement’ reward for being the team of the day. They had a very young team led by an inspirational Captain and they kept their spirits high for the whole day - well done Kent!

In the Mixed Ability competition the winners were ‘Wallington Wanderers’ winning all of their games, with ‘Gidea Park’ coming in close second only losing one game.

As the medals where given out and the day wound down, the day had proved to be a great success with the players in all teams managing to play lots of cricket with the spectators enjoying watching.

A huge well done to the organising C4C team!

At the end of October 2010, I spent three highly enjoyable days with some very special teenage cricketers representing their counties at Lord’s.    You won’t hear of lads like Bradley, Ronnie, Joel and Reece joining a county academy.   Their achievements are even more remarkable.    Bradley plays cricket from his wheelchair; Ronnie has learning disabilities; Joel and Reece are blind.

I was at the Lord’s Indoor School with the Essex County Cricket Board, with whom I work as a volunteer with cricketers with disabilities, and these four were among those representing the county in a competition organised by the charity Cricket For Change.

Cricket For Change was originally set up as London Community Cricket Association after the Brixton Riots of 1981, pioneering projects aimed at getting unemployed and directionless young people to train as cricket coaches.  

Since those early days, Cricket For Change has broadened into several areas and their mission statement now reads “Using cricket to change the lives of disadvantaged young people”.   These areas include:

URBAN CRICKET which gives young people living in inner city environments the opportunity to learn and enjoy cricket as a positive influence on their lives.   Success can lead to the “Inner City World Cup’ which gives young players from around London the chance to represent England or the country of their parent’s birth.

REFUGEE CRICKET PROJECT for young unaccompanied refugees who have fled their countries due to war, oppression and persecution.  Many are from war-torn Afghanistan who play the game their fathers learned when they were refugees in Pakistan during the Russian occupation of their country.

HIT THE TOP is Cricket For Change’s world leading, groundbreaking programme for young people with a disability who, with training and competition, can progress to their respective England Disability Representative Teams.

It was the Hit The Top Programme that brought me to Lord’s where over the three days, four Metropolitan counties (Essex, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey) plus Sussex could compete in six-a-side matches for three different areas of disability.

The first day was for those with physical disabilities (PAN).  Only Essex, Kent and Middlesex had raised teams and Essex, captained by young Bradley in his wheelchair, beat Kent in a close final.

On the second day, Surrey and Sussex joined us in a competition for young people with a visual impairment.    Blind cricket is played with a ball the size of a small football which produces a rattling sound when in motion.  Each player is graded according to their degree of sight-loss, B1 being completely blind.   Essex were at a disadvantage as we could raise only five players of which three were graded B1 and one (Joel) on the borderline, which made the fifth , a B3, very active in the field.  However, we did win a match.   Joel, only fifteen, plays for the England Blind XI and Reece (a B1), also fifteen, attends a mainstream grammar school in Chelmsford: two very proud and remarkable boys.

The favourites to win this competition were a very strong Sussex side but great performances by a new Middlesex team overcame runners-up Kent, the previous holders of this trophy.

Young people with learning disabilities had their competition on the final day.   Surrey were by far the best team with some superb understanding between batsmen giving them many quick runs,   Essex were worthy runners-up although suffering an epidemic of run-outs.   We probably had the competition’s youngest player, eleven year old Ronnie, a fast bowler with the ability to achieve genuine swing, who is an integral part of the Essex adult disability team.

At the first Cricket For Change Hit the Top Awards Night in October 2010, Kent’s Visually Impaired side gained the County Team of the Year Award with Essex’s Learning Disabilities team a close second.

As well as working in the United Kingdom, Cricket For Change has an international programme which has included cross-border cricket in Israel/Palestine; a project with former child soldiers in Sri Lanka; visually impaired cricket in several African countries, as well as in New York.   They have also been instrumental in setting up the Courtney Walsh Foundation in Jamaica.   Disability cricket has been introduced to Panama, and there are also projects in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.   There have also been tours to Jamaica and it is planned to send a visually impaired team to New York in 2011.

Cricket For Change runs a Cricket Apprenticeship Scheme which provides an opportunity for young people aged between 16 and 24 to become cricket coaches and sports development officers.   In addition, The Peer Leader Programme, part of the Hit The Top Programme, gives young people with a disability to work in mainstream schools focusing on areas of physical disability, visual impairment and learning difficulties.

In 2011 Cricket For Change celebrates thirty years of great work.    At their headquarters at Plough Lane, Wallington (near Croydon) a picturesque ground is overlooked by a unique cricket centre, purpose built for cricketers with a disability.

However, when I visit Wallington, what makes the greater impression on me is not just the amazing facilities that include an indoor school; modern pavilion with offices, dining area and reception rooms, but the wonderful atmosphere of the place.    There, young people with all forms of disability are treated as “young people” and not “disabled people”.  

This is most evident with the enthusiasm; and the relaxed, but disciplined, relationship between players and coaches: also seeing the players helping each other (including those on opposing teams) to cope with their disabilities.

To be amongst those young people for those three days at Lord’s was a fantastic experience, to join their competitive enthusiasm and joy in an incredible atmosphere; the ‘true Spirit of Cricket’.    It is only after the event when I got home that the emotions kicked in and I thought of all those who were justly proud of representing their counties at Lord’s: so proud yet so vulnerable.

That is why I would recommend anyone considering a donation to a worthy cricket charity to think of the great work being done by Cricket For Change at and from their headquarters in Plough Lane, Wallington, Surrey.

RICHARD WIGGINS - 2010

As England’s cricketers embark on their World Cup campaign, back home a new initiative is using the game to break the cycle of inner-city violence.

The bus stop on Forest Road in Walthamstow, east London, is swaddled in flowers. Two days earlier, a teenager called Ezekiel Amosu was killed under the wheels of a number 123 bus. Accounts differ. One theory is that he fell while running away from muggers. The police reckon he may have been pushed under the bus by a gang.

No more than 400 yards away from where Ezekiel died, a set of yellow plastic stumps is being erected. Bats are being distributed to eager pairs of hands. This – a modest expanse of council-built tarmac flanked on three sides by imposing multi-storey housing blocks – is cricket’s new frontier. It may not bear much resemblance to Test cricket, and it may not produce the next Andrew Flintoff or Stuart Broad but, in a way, it’s much more important than that.

Every Thursday evening at the Priory Court Estate in Walthamstow, cricket takes over. This is one of the country’s most deprived neighbourhoods, with a long history of gang violence and gun and knife crime. Police used to be wary of setting foot in the area. Now, the local bobbies turn up to play the kids at cricket. The kids win, of course.

Around a year ago, the UK-based charity Cricket for Change began holding cricket sessions on the estate. At first only a few youngsters turned up, more out of curiosity than anything else. Slowly, though, they became hooked. They told their friends. At the start of this year the Lord’s Taverners, one of the country’s oldest sports charities, came on board. And on this freezing winter night, around 20 youngsters aged eight to 16 have turned up for another game.

Everyone on the estate is aware of the recent death. One of the kids says that he is feeling “p----- off”. Why? “Because my cousin’s boyfriend was killed.” One girl says she saw her neighbour being shot on her doorstep. In theory, there should be a chilling undercurrent to the evening. But as the balls are bowled and fours are hit, nothing could be further from anyone’s mind.

Handing out the bats and taping up the balls (tennis balls, wrapped in masking tape, are used) is Adam Hall. The 23 year-old may be a cricket coach by trade, but his expertise goes well beyond a knowledge of the forward defensive stroke. Adam grew up on the estate, was a member of a gang, and now works full-time trying to stop today’s youth from strutting into oblivion. Attached to each week’s cricket masterclass is a message.

“Cut out the small things,” Hall tells the group. “Let’s say you tell someone to shut up. He says he’ll punch you. Someone else says they’ll come in and punch them harder. That’s how little things turn into big things. So let’s cut out the little things.”

It is people like Adam – and his friend Perry, who also runs the sessions – who are key to the enterprise. Matthew Patten, the chief executive of the Lord’s Taverners, explains: “We have 4,000 volunteers, most of whom have come through the cricket system. These kind of areas are a foreign land to them.” Instruction has to come from within.

“The issue in Walthamstow is what you find pretty much everywhere,” Hall says. “Marginalised kids from disadvantaged backgrounds, surrounded by a whole load of issues. We’ve had issues with guns. There was a lad with a gun who just turned up and decided to help out. It was quite hairy, but he was friendly enough.”

The idea is to ensnare young people in sport before the gangs can get to them. According to the report on knife crime commissioned by the Government from ex-soap actress Brooke Kinsella and published earlier this month, the first year of secondary school is when most social ties are formed. By the age of 16, many crucial life choices have already been made. Hall admits that he was once “involved with the wrong people”, but early enough for him to carve an alternative future. Now he is Young Cricket Coach of the Year and last year travelled to Chicago to speak to Michelle Obama about youth projects.

But why cricket? Why not chess, or basket-weaving? “Cricket is an individual game within a team game,” Hall explains. “Football is the sort of game you can get lost in. I could play for half an hour and not touch the ball once. Here everyone gets a chance to bat, everyone gets a chance to bowl. It’s like a gang, but in a positive sense. It gives them a sense of belonging. They’ve never had that before. And they beat the police! The message we had at the end was that you can get one over on the police by playing cricket. You don’t need to do it by robbing a corner shop.”

Now they want to spread the word. Cricket for Change and the Lord’s Taverners are hoping to expand street cricket to 20 cities over the next three years. There are plans for regional and national competitions that will culminate in a final at Lords. “The competition is crucially important,” says Hall. “These guys never leave this estate. To take them somewhere like Lord’s would be amazing.”

Meanwhile in Walthamstow the quiet revolution continues to brew. “See those bigger guys?” Adam asks, pointing out a couple of the teenagers. “They’re the next me. They’ll be the next people delivering these sessions. They’ll be trained up.”

Do they know that yet?

“They don’t. They’re involved in that process. The amazing thing is that they don’t realise. When Wesley there gets to a certain age, we’ll start to inspire him. 'Get your level one coaching badge, join this scheme, start to help me out.’

“That’s what I want to try and create across the country. Young people from estates are the best people to run these sessions.”

Nobody is suggesting that the nation’s youth crime problem can be solved by an hour a week of cricket. But what estate cricket does prove is that there are better ways of engaging young people than by beating them with a stick. All it needs is a little time, a little patience, and possibly a set of yellow plastic stumps.

Link to Daily Telegraph article with pictures

It was the first prison visit for some of our newer members of staff and is always a daunting but enlightening experience.

Our visit was based around C4C’s Mike Henderson, giving a talk to 34 young offenders who had signed up for the days cricket event about how to change the cycle of reoffending, a ‘Street20’ cricket tournament amongst the inmates and a C4C v ISIS P.E Academy staff match.

Mike’s talk captivated not just the young offenders but the ISIS P.E Academy and C4C staff and now works alongside Tony on the cricket programme.  Adam Hall explained how C4C can give opportunities to ex-offenders on our ‘Street Team’ initiative.

It was a hectic morning getting 6 teams through as many ‘Street20’ matches as possible in the sports hall and at the same time explaining the rules to most of the players who had never played this version of cricket before.

The hospitality shown by the inmates was greatly received and when I accepted an offer of a cup of tea I was offered a choice of Green, Jasmine or Mint which was an unexpected touch.

The only downside of the day was a C4C team of full of star players being soundly beaten by the ISIS P.E Academy staff in the big Street20 match of the day. It was a shock result but partly due to them serving us a fantastic buffet lunch immediately before the match was due to start, it took our focus away and we fell for it but we’re looking forward to getting even in the return fixture.

It was a great day for all involved and will hopefully promote the Cricket programme a wider audience, C4C have plans to deliver a level one coaching course and education programme within ISIS in the near future and to identify suitable candidates to give an opportunity to on our Street Team programme. 

Over 350 guests enjoyed stunning night time views from The Paramount Bar (which is located at the summit of Centre Point, central London) as well as an opportunity to join in and be a part of the charity's special year.

There were introductions and speeches from, Phil Tufnell, the charity's President; members of staff as well as some of the young people who benefit from the programmes that Cricket for Change deliver. For example, Charlie Stack, who is currently on the Apprenticeship scheme, made his public speaking debut and told everyone about the joy, excitement, inspirations and challenges he gets from being involved on the scheme.


Charlie Stack, C4C Apprentice and Tuffers, C4C President

A number of the guests who attended provided the following comments about the evening and C4C: 

“What a terrific charity. I never believe people when they say; "I was humbled".... but I have to say that I was humbled by it all.”

“I just wanted to say thank you and congratulate you on a fantastic evening. Cricket For Change is a great organisation and I wish you every success with your endeavours.”

“I'd just like to say how much I enjoyed the evening - it was a genuinely humbling event with some fantastic people speaking. Thanks so much again for the invite and the insights it provided”

Details about further 30th anniversary events, such as 'The England Captains Dinner' in April, the Golf Day in May and the 'Anniversary Dinner' in October, can be found in the events section of the charity's website.

Cricket for Change would like to thank Investec for sponsoring the evening's celebrations.


Beth Evans - Cricket for Change

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE FROM INVESTEC

CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES FROM THE EVENT

Based in or around housing estates seriously affected by gangs and youth crime, ‘The Lord’s Taverners Cricket for Change Programme’ will be run by local young people and offer regular access to competitions. Participants will play a super-short form of the game known as 'Street20' that is inexpensive, easy to learn and that can be played almost anywhere.

An army of young coaches will be trained and funded to set up their own teams on estates and play other inner city groups in new local tournaments every half-term and school holiday. Regional and national competitions will also be held twice a year allowing teams from Bradford to Bristol to become national champions at the sport they love. Perhaps most importantly the programme will create a platform for young people to learn about making a positive impact in their own communities.

22 year-old ex gang-member, C4C Development Manager and current ECB Young Coach of the Year, Adam Hall, will head up the programme. “I know from experience how getting involved with gangs can mess up your life. Cricket has helped me find a way out of trouble. I want other young people with street knowledge, charisma and leadership skills to put their energies into helping run this programme so they avoid getting into gang-related nonsense. We want them to be proud of their actions and for their communities to be proud of them, too.”

Matthew Patten is CEO of The Lord’s Taverners, the official Charity of recreational cricket and the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports Charity that helps some of society’s most disadvantaged young people. “Cricket is currently riding a wave with the national team doing brilliantly and participation in schools and clubs on the up. But in many communities, too many disadvantaged young people don’t have access to the social and health benefits that regular involvement in competitive team sports like cricket can bring. Both Charities are committed to changing this and in working together as a team we will be able to reach and achieve much more for those young people than by working apart.”

Cricket for Change has spent 30 years becoming the world leader in using the game to improve the lives of disabled and socially-excluded youngsters. CEO, Andy Sellins, sees this partnership as a new way to engage with young people often portrayed as a ‘problem’. “We have had great success in London training young coaches to support and inspire other young people from a similar background to theirs. Our job is to tap into their energy to help them change the face of their communities. By doing this we can create a growing movement that will change the face of grassroots cricket forever.”

- ENDS -

For more information about The Lord’s Taverners please contact James Gillson

on 020 7821 2828 or james.gillson@lordstaverners.org

For more information about Cricket for Change please contact Dominic Cotton

on 0208 669 2177 or 07767 686632 or dominiccotton@cricketforchange.org.uk

Based in or around housing estates seriously affected by gangs and youth crime, ‘The Lord’s Taverners Cricket for Change Programme’ will be run by local young people and offer regular access to competitions. Participants will play a super-short form of the game known as 'Street20' that is inexpensive, easy to learn and that can be played almost anywhere.

CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE MORE ON BBC NEWS

An army of young coaches will be trained and funded to set up their own teams on estates and play other inner city groups in new local tournaments every half-term and school holiday. Regional and national competitions will also be held twice a year allowing teams from Bradford to Bristol to become national champions at the sport they love. Perhaps most importantly the programme will create a platform for young people to learn about making a positive impact in their own communities.

22 year-old ex gang-member, C4C Development Manager and current ECB Young Coach of the Year, Adam Hall, will head up the programme. “I know from experience how getting involved with gangs can mess up your life. Cricket has helped me find a way out of trouble. I want other young people with street knowledge, charisma and leadership skills to put their energies into helping run this programme so they avoid getting into gang-related nonsense. We want them to be proud of their actions and for their communities to be proud of them, too".

Matthew Patten is CEO of The Lord’s Taverners, the official Charity of recreational cricket and the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports Charity that helps some of society’s most disadvantaged young people. “Cricket is currently riding a wave with the national team doing brilliantly and participation in schools and clubs on the up. But in many communities, too many disadvantaged young people don’t have access to the social and health benefits that regular involvement in competitive team sports like cricket can bring. Both Charities are committed to changing this and in working together as a team we will be able to reach and achieve much more for those young people than by working apart”.

Cricket for Change has spent 30 years becoming the world leader in using the game to improve the lives of disabled and socially-excluded youngsters. CEO, Andy Sellins, sees this partnership as a new way to engage with young people often portrayed as a ‘problem’. “We have had great success in London training young coaches to support and inspire other young people from a similar background to theirs. Our job is to tap into their energy to help them change the face of their communities. By doing this we can create a growing movement that will change the face of grassroots cricket forever".

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES FROM THIS HISTORIC LAUNCH

Sir John was involved with the charity back in the 1980’s, during the Brixton riots, when ‘Cricket for Change’ was known as the ‘London Community Cricket Association’. This was during Sir John’s time as Prime Minister and as well being an advocate for our cause he also held a private dinner at 10 Downing Street which helped raise over £20k for the charity.

We were provided with the following testimonial from Sir John:

“I warmly congratulate Cricket for Change on it’s 30^th Anniversary.

Cricket is an extraordinary game: played around the world it can bring together the most diverse characters. Cricket for Change has carried the game to many young people who might otherwise have never played it. This is an extraordinary contribution, and benefits not only the young, but society generally.

I wish the charity every possible success during this special anniversary year, and for the future”

The RT Hon Sir John Major  KG CH

You can download and view the official letter and signature by following the link below.

We would like to thank Sir John for his continued support and look forward to working with him in the year ahead.

After a lengthy wait outside on a cold and frosty December morning we made our way through the prison gates and following a brief bag search we were led into a cafe area. Having warmed ourselves up with some hot drinks we then made our way into the main sports hall.

As we walked in we saw that the prisoners were already in there throwing the ball to one another and so to get things going, we quickly split everyone up into 4 teams.  The C4C coaching team split themselves into the Blue and Red teams whilst we spilt the Young Offenders (YO’s) into the Green and Yellow teams. I (Alex Bassan) then brought everyone in to explain the rules the games got underway.

The Red and Greens started the competition, with the Red team skipper winning the toss and choosing to bat first.  The Red’s got off to a steady start but the Green team did hold their own with some good bowling and fielding.  As the Green’s started picking up a few wickets it was soon time for the Red’s skipper (Don Miller, C4C coach) to come in and have a bat. It was the last over of the match and in steamed the fast bowler with Miller just managing to keep out the ball from bowling him. But the next ball was a fast yorker hitting Miller’s middle stump quickly followed by the ecstatic cheering sound of the YO’s ringing around the sports hall.

The Red’s had scored 26 and with only 27 runs to win, the YO’s batted nervously. Miller, feeling a little embarrassed to say the least, opened the bowling getting 2 early wickets. The YO’s had batted well and now just needed 6 of the last over. With one batsman hitting the sidewall and then both batters running they scored 2 runs; the other 2 balls were dot balls; then with the last ball one of the remaining Green batsmen hit a thundering 6 off the back wall to finish the game off in style.

As the other games and the day progressed, all accompanied with some background music, everyone began to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the competition. Everyone was getting better and better with 6’s being hit, people losing wickets and it all became more interesting when the Guards decided to enter in a team.

One of the highlights of the day was when,’ Jaffer’, one of the young lads from a C4C ‘StreetChance’ project in Southwark (and who is now on the C4C Apprenticeship Scheme and a Level 1 cricket coach) bowled the first over in a game against the guards team. The first ball hits shattered the stumps with followed quickly by the YO’s cheers. The second ball ‘Jaffer’ cleaned up another guard followed by more cheering and clapping and with the third ball, ‘Jaffer’, completed his hat trick. The YO’s were beside themselves on the floor laughing and cheering. ‘Jaffer’ was the hero of the day and well done to ‘Jaffer’ for some brilliant bowling.

Overall the day was a brilliant success with the YO’s not wanting the day to end. The guards are already arranging for another date for C4C to come again and run another competition. The C4C team always enjoy and relish these kinds of opportunities and it is always important to get an insight into the life of a YOI and how the YO’s react to days such as this.

A big thank you must go to Feltham YOI; David Smith from Barclays; Matt Ancell and John Markham from the London Met. Police and all the C4C team, without all these people important days like this would not happen.

Competition report written by Alex Bassan, C4C Development Coach

CLICK ON THE DOWNLOAD BELOW TO READ A NOTE OF THANKS FROM FELTHAM YOP

Then on Friday 15th October, Thomas's Clapham parents kicked off the school's fundraising for Cricket for Change with an ABBA tribute night. 200 parents donned their disco outfits and partied the night away in aid of C4C. The 'FABBA Girls', an amazing ABBA tribute band got people dancing on tables, a live auction and fantastic speeches from C4C’s Andy Dalby-Welsh and Donovan Miller reminded everyone of the value and importance of C4C's work. As well as a wonderful night it was a chance for Thomas's parents to get a better understanding of the charity that their children support so enthusiastically.

Fundraising continued throughout the Christmas term with a cake sale, a Christmas wrapping paper sale and a Christmas Fair.

Then on the last day of term (16^th December) the staff of C4C, in front of excited audience of Thomas’s pupils, gave the performance of their lives in their version of the traditional panto, ‘Aladdin’.  Just before the main event of the day, Thomas’s PTA were thrilled to announce to the Thomas's children and the team from C4C that since September alone, the school had raised an amazing £35, 989!

Members of C4C gratefully received a cheque and thanked and encouraged the boys and girls that their hard work would make a huge difference to the lives of lots of young disadvantaged people.

There were two performances (of Aladdin) in the morning both of which saw the audience get very involved with lots of ‘Boo’s’ and ‘He’s behind you’s!’. The C4C team had worked hard in rehearsals and instead of Aladdin’s lamp it was a magic ball and stump that Aladdin used to secure the heart of the Princess and defeat the evil Abananza. And judging by some of the acting (and carefully chosen costumes) of certain cast members, it appears they have discovered some very hidden talents.

The end of both performances were treated with rapturous applause as the cast went and joined the audience for a final song and dance to celebrate the end of term and Christmas. C4C and Thomas’s are looking forward to having fun and raising more funds together again in 2011.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTO'S FROM C4C'S 'ALADDIN'

Likewise if you do any of your shopping online then you can help raise funds through ‘EasyFundraising’.

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'C4C ONLINE SHOP'

The Cricket For Change online shop is the place for players and supporters to buy official charity sportswear, stylish leisurewear and quality accessories.

By buying from the C4C online shop you will not only look good, you will be supporting the charity. Our supplier 'Recognition Awards' gives back a percentage of every sale to C4C.

So whether you’re in a team or supporting from the pavilion wear your C4C clothes with pride.  Click on the logo below to find out what is available.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

'EASYFUNDRAISING'

Choose from over 2000 of the UK's best-known retailers including many popular names such as Amazon, M&S, Argos, John Lewis and HMV, and when you shop using the links on the 'EasyFundraising' site up to 15% from every purchase you make is donated to C4C.

It doesn't cost a penny extra to shop and raise funds using the website, and as many retailers now give extra discounts when you buy online, you can even save money!

Click on the EasyFundraising Logo and you can start raising and saving money straight away.

The course was unique, because many of the young people there had never experienced game related training and many of the aspiring young coaches were taken aback by how the games that the C4C coaches introduced were not only fun but incredibly informative. The group swelled from 16 to 60 by the end of the 4 days (that C4C were in Kabul). A particular highlight was seeing the eight female members of the group shine and show great responsibility and leadership in their roles as coaches. 

 

The whole group learnt how to play C4C’s ‘Street20’ (a fast and innovative way of playing and introducing cricket to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds), which was used to finish the trip off with a tournament of over 50 young people in 8 teams battling it out for a trophy kindly donated by the Afghan International cricket player, Raees Ahmadzai.

The trip was an undoubted success with the young people getting a good grasp of the game and its rules. It was great to see these talented young people running games and competitions themselves and C4C are very hopeful that the young people will keep assisting the AYSCO in the future. C4C would like to give their appreciation and thanks to Mr Ahmadzai and the ‘Afghan Connection’ for all of their help and support during this wonderful trip. C4C look forward to developing the relationship and programme into 2011 and beyond.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES FROM KABUL

Over the next three days, Danny Baker, introduced a series of youth work games that helped the NGO workers to understand how using games that developed communication skills, confidence, self worth and self esteem in young people could really benefit the Street Kids that they were working with on a daily basis.   

A major issue the NGO’s and UNICEF face is securing venues for the children to play safely and without being moved on by the Police.  Following our reception at the British High Commission we were linked with the British School.  They very kindly offered to provide a venue for the children to participate in festivals and tournaments once a month and therefore solving this problem.   The school were also keen to offer their pupils to act as volunteers for the programme.

While in Delhi, the team took time out in the evenings after the days training to visit some of the NGO’s projects.  The poverty that the Street Kids endure was quite remarkable and very sad.  However, they all still love cricket, their national game and pride of the country.  The excitement our visit caused was inspiring for us and confirmed our desire to grow this area of our work as there were so many children who could benefit from playing and building relationships with their fellow Street Kids.  By training some of children in the future we hope to offer them a way out of the very basic and impoverished lives they lead at the moment.

The programme was a great success inspiring 24 NGO workers to use this game of ‘Street20’ and providing a solution to what would be considered a simple problem to solve in the UK but one that had really limited opportunity for Street Kids to play in Delhi.  

We are continuing to link with the NGO’s and UNICEF in Delhi and we hope to be able to develop and grow a ‘Train the Trainer’ programme there in 2011. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES FROM INDIA

I (Beth Evans), along with four other Cricket for Change (C4C) staff and England Women’s Cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent, travelled to Bangladesh on Sunday 3^rd October 2010 to run the ICC “Great Spirit” Young Cricket Leader Programme in partnership with UNICEF and the Bangladesh Cricket Board. This programme was aimed at young women in order to empower females. Ebony Rainford-Brent and I led the course that trained 24 young Bangladeshis to become young leaders.

The young leaders that we worked with were from the whole of Bangladesh and at first many were shy and not confident in themselves. Through the youth-work games and team building exercises we used, these young people grew in themselves so much. A  few of the group did not even speak Bengali; which to begin with proved hard but with the help of the rest of the group and clear animated instructions we were able to communicate with everyone.

On Wednesday 6^th October, 48 young girls from across Bangladesh turned up so that our young leaders could run ‘Street20’ cricket competitions with them. This was a great experience for the young leaders and to hear their voices becoming louder day by day was great, this really showed confidence in what they were doing. On the Wednesday evening Ebony and I treated the 24 young leaders to a meal out. We took them for Pizza Hut! I know this sounds strange, travel all the way to Bangladesh and visit Pizza Hut! However there was a reason for this.

Most of the group came from very rural villages and had never seen a pizza. We chose this restaurant to push their limits. This was a week of new skills and going to new places and trying new food was a part of this whole journey. Everyone tried pizza, some did not like it and some loved it but they all loved their ice cream! This experience was more than whether they liked the food or not. We then stayed with them at the ‘Bangladesh Institute for Sport’. Here we found out about their family lives and what they enjoy in life. The young girls covered us in mehendi (Henna), which is still on my hands today and it was a fantastic evening where we just stayed up chatting like old friends.

Thursday 9^th October was the ‘Launch’ and although the weather had let us down, the young leaders did not. They delivered a great demonstration of their leadership skills in an indoor venue. That evening we had been invited to the British High Commission. This was a huge event for the young leaders and they all dressed up in their three pieces and saris for the occasion. They were like a rainbow in all their bright colours and big smiles.

I (Beth Evans) spoke at the event and then a young girl on the programme, Nupal, spoke of her experiences. She said that until this week she had felt like an ordinary girl that would just fade into the background of life. She never thought it would be possible to achieve what she did on this course or to feel as confident as she does now in meeting new people and leading a new sport. Nupal spoke about how she felt that this opportunity helped her to realise her potential in life and show her that she can achieve her dreams.  It was an emotional speech; myself and Ebony were in tears afterwards.

Some of the members of the national New Zealand Cricket Team were also at the event and they were amazed by our work and inspired by the women and girls from the four corners of Bangladesh. The New Zealand manager, Michael Sharpe, has written about meeting the young people on their website and how impressed he was with the project (see the link below).

All these young people put their heart and soul into this project and really made an effort. I truly believe this project has changed their lives and they will change more people’s lives with the skills they all have now.  An example of this was when we wanted to take a team photo on the last day.

Popy, one of the shyest participants at the beginning with no understanding of English was now able to understand what I was saying in English and translate it by gestures and Bengali so that everyone knew what to do, and we all smiled! Seeing Popy translate for me on the last day brought tears to my eyes as this brought home exactly what we had achieved with these young leaders over 5 very short days.

This trip was life changing for me and it was a pleasure to be on it. I hope the young leaders continue their hard work and that they can empower more young people across the country.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COLOURFUL PICTURES OF THE BANGLADESH TRIP

THE NEW ZEALAND 'BLACK CAPS' ARE IMPRESSED

The official part of the evening was presided over by Dominic Cotton (C4C Corporate Relations Manager) along with England Women’s international star, Ebony Rainford- Brent, who was handing out the awards. Ebony also spoke about how Cricket for Change had been a major influence in her life.

The first award of the evening was ‘Most Improved Player of the Year’.  For Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) the winner from Essex was, Charlie Stack.  For the Visually Impaired (VI), ‘Player of the Year’ was Surrey’s, Lois Turner and then for Physical Difficulty (PAN), ‘Player of the Year' was Kent’s, Daniel Mynott.

As each winner came up, their C4C coach would go up with them and say a few words of congratulations and encouragement.  For Essex it was Donovan Miller, for Surrey, Beth Evans and for Kent it was Tony Joseph.

The next award was for the ‘County Team of the Year’. This was hard to pick but following a lot of discussion and debate the winners were the, ‘Kent VI’ team with ‘Essex’s MLD’ team coming a very close second.  The next award was, ‘Outstanding Team of the Year’, which went to the ‘Surrey BACD Hardball Team’.  Danny Baker, their C4C coach, spoke of their wonderful achievements which in what was their first season as a hardball team managing to get into the semi – finals of their cup competition playing Lancashire.

There was then a short interlude in which Danny Baker of C4C played the game ‘Heads and Tails’  and the winner was John Kenward, who with a little victory dance, accepted his box of chocolates.

Then came the last three awards of the evening.  First up was the ‘Schools of the Year’.  Again, it was hard to pick just one, so the coaches picked one school for each county.  For Middlesex it was, 'Westlea School'; for Surrey it was, 'Carew Manor'; for Kent it was, 'Riverside School' and for Essex it was, 'William Morris School'. The next award was ‘Player of The Year’. For MLD the award went to, John Kenward; for VI it was, Scott Harvey from Middlesex and James Wischussen (C4C Coach) came up with him to offer some words of congratulations. The PAN ‘Player of The Year’ went to Bradley Donovan.

The last award of the night was the ‘Special Recognition’ award. This went to two very special people, Billy Gilbody and Ryan Jones. C4C coach, Adam Hall, stepped forward to speak about Billy Gilbody. Adam explained that Billy had had to fight a life threatening illness and especially with the aid of his family and support of the C4C staff, he is recovering really well and it was so wonderful to see Billy’s smile again. 

Andy Dalby-Welsh stepped up to speak about the inspirational Ryan Jones, the other winner of this award. Ryan was given the award for some outstanding fundraising on behalf C4C and his HTT colleagues. Ryan went Barbados on the first C4C trip 2 years ago and raised just over £3000 and in doing so aided other people to go on that tour.  And again for the 2010 tour to Jamaica, astonishingly, he did it all over again raising a enough funds for himself and for others to have the opportunity to experience the trip.  

Alex Bassan rounded the night off by thanking everyone who came to the awards night and added that next year's awards and HTT would bigger and better.  He also thanked the Cricket for Change team who, as always give 100% to getting the HTT players to be the best that they can be.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PICTURES FROM THE HTT AWARDS NIGHT

Pan Disability Tournament (PAN)  - Tuesday 26^th October

‘Essex are the Champions’

The HTT Pan competition was contested between three counties; Essex, Kent and Surrey .

The teams were made up of players with learning and physical disabilities, they had trained hard prior to the day and most had played at Lord’s before so they were all highly confident of taking the cup back to their prospective county.

The first round match between Kent and Essex was a very competitive affair, they both got stuck in from the off with Kent putting in a determined showing against the tournament favourites. Kent had some big hitters, in the mould of Andrew Flintoff, mixed together with some smaller stroke makers who would keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Essex scored 39 off their 6 overs but Kent sailed past the total with 3 balls to spare.

This was the only game Essex lost during the rest of the day.  Surrey had a strong side with two players making their county debut. The stand out performer for them was, Tami Johnson, who consistently scored runs and took wickets throughout.

Even with Tami playing to such a high level and his team mates chipping in with good performances they to were unable to stop Essex’s march to the final. At 3.15pm, the PAN grand final got underway between Kent and Essex.

Kent scored a competitive 44 in the first innings with Captain, Daniel Mynot, top scoring with 21. Billy Birchmore and William Ely supported him well by running quick and daring singles to the Essex fielders.

Essex got off to a bad start in their run chase, losing 2 wickets in the first over. However, this didn’t stop them chasing down the 44 runs with confidence. Bradley Donovan Jamie Torr played with intelligence and calmness and it all came down to the last over with Essex needing 4 runs to win.

In the end this was made easy for them with 2 wides being bowled off the first two balls. A disappointing end for Kent but jubilation for the Essex team who without doubt were the best team on the day and this was capped off by Jamie Torr being awarded the ‘Player of the Day’.

Event Report By Tony Joseph , Cricket for Change Senior Development Officer  

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Visually Impaired Tournament (VI)  - Wednesday 27^th October  

‘Middlesex First Time Triumph’

The VI Inter-County Competition was a huge success as usual.  It was great to see so many new faces and the standard of all the county teams was fantastic. It was a very close competition and the VI teams have all come on leaps and bounds over the last year. Kent won the last competition for the very first time but unfortunately this week they were just pipped to the title by a new team, Middlesex.

Middlesex have never won the VI competition but played brilliantly all day and definitely showed how hard they have been working.  With excellent fielding and batting skills this team really did deserve the trophy.

At all the Hit The Top competitions throughout the week the HTT Peer Leaders have been choosing a ‘Player of the Day’ and on this day it was a very well deserved Middlesex player, Leanne Harvey. Leanne has developed hugely as a player over the last year and her confidence in her ability has also grown. She is not scared to be better than the boys and she is definitely giving the boys a challenge. 

We were lucky enough to have England international players, James Anderson, Steven Finn and Isa Guhu hand out winning medals and trophies before the headed off for their respective winter tours.

Event Report By Beth Evans, Cricket for Change Development Officer

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Moderate Learning Difficulties (MLD) Tournament – Thursday 28^th October

‘Unbeaten Surrey win the day’

The 1^st game of the day saw Middlesex thrashing Sussex after surprisingly winning the Visually Impaired (VI) competition on the 27^th October. And it was looking as if Middlesex could cause another upset by  winning the MLD  competition as well .  Essex looked good in beating Kent in their 1^st game.

But in the end, the day belonged to Surrey, who were very impressive all through the day. They won the competition by not only winning all their games but by collecting vital bonus points in each of their matches.

The ‘Player of the Day’ award went to, Taylor Young, from the Surrey team, who was brilliant with both bat and ball as well as taking two great catches when fielding.

It was a fantastically enjoyable day all wrapped up the Chairman of the Cricket for Change Trustees, John Gilbert, who was there to say a word of congratulations and thanks and hand out the prizes to the various participants.

Event Report By Don Miller, Cricket for Change Development Officer

From a Lord Mayor of London Award Winner to Chicago and Beyond

Warmest congratulations to Danny Baker and Adam Hall both C4C Development Officers whose work and efforts in developing and undertaking programmes for disadvantaged children have recently been recognised.  

Danny Baker, won the ‘Lord Mayor of London's Award for Services to London Youth’ at a lunch at Mansion House, London on Thursday 30^th September 2010.

And, Adam Hall was invited by 'StreetChance' programme partners, ‘Barclays Spaces for Sports’ to attend and take part in the 'Beyond Sport Summit' in Chicago.  Adam was one of the experts sitting, alongside other global sporting organisations, on the Global Stimulus Panel - ‘Insights from Chicago and beyond’, discussing issues and solutions on how to engage young people away from crime using sport.   Click here to read more

ICC 'Spirit of Girls Cricket' in Bangladesh

A number C4C staff along with C4C’s very own, Ebony Rainford-Brent, England Women’s cricketer recently returned from Bangladesh working on an ICC funded project promoting women's cricket. Further details on the trip will follow shortly but please click here to see some wonderfully colourful pictures from the trip.

Peace and Sport

Andy Sellins, Chief Executive of Cricket for Change, has been asked to represent world cricket by the ICC at the Peace and Sport Conference in Monaco in December 2010.  This is a remarkable invitation and a true recognition of Andy's unique work in the world of cricket in the past 25 years.

Word of Support from British Airways CEO for Cricket for Change

On the 10^th October at a recent event in Barbados, Willie Walsh, Chief Executive of C4C partner, British Airways, was full of praise for C4C’s work in conjunction with BA and The Courtney Walsh Foundation in Jamaica.  Click here to read more about C4C and the Courtney Walsh Foundation or Click here to read more on the mention of C4C in the BA's CEO speech.

Rugby for Change

This programme aims to use a year round 'Street Rugby' project to target young people at risk from the negative influence of gangs operating in their local neighbourhood. London Scottish Rugby Club have agreed to support the 'Rugby for Change' programme by offering their ground and their coaches for competitions and ‘Rugby Ready’ days during which young players learn how to play full contact rugby safely.

Small groups from each of the four programme areas will come together each half term and school holiday for leadership training at our Cricket Centre near Croydon.  The first 'Rugby for Change' programmes started on September 17^th 2010 and the charity is very grateful for the support from Investec and Sport England for this programme.  Click here to read more.

Adam will be one of the experts sitting, alongside other global sporting organisations, on the Global Stimulus Panel - ‘Insights from Chicago and beyond’, which will be discussing issues and solutions on how to engage young people away from crime using sport.  Here, Adam will talk about all the great work Cricket for Change does in changing young people’s lives in inner city London and beyond.

Other organisations attending this summit, which begins on the 29th September, will be UNICEF, England 2018 bid team, Comic Relief, the governing bodies of USA sports such as NFL, NBA and MLB. These are just a few of the hundred organisations attending this week.

Adam said;“It’s really exciting to go to the US and talk about all the great work we are doing on the 'Streetchance' programme.

As a charity we are very proud to be considered as the experts of engaging the hardest to reach groups through the power of cricket. Getting to network with some other amazing charities and organizations will be equally as great and I hope we can inspire other organizations to follow the same pattern of engagement we use at C4C so successfully”.

Adam has also been invited to a reception with the Mayor of Chicago and will spend a total of 5 days in the city giving his expert knowledge on engaging with hard to reach youth groups through power of sport as well as increasing the profile of the work of Cricket for Change.

STREET CRICKET PROJECT 'HELPS BOWL OUT YOUTH CRIME IN 15 BOROUGHS'

The London Evening Standard - September 20th, 2010
By Anna Davis

Children are playing cricket instead of joining gangs and getting involved in crime, according to a study today.

A project that encourages pupils in deprived parts of London to take up the game is said to have had a positive effect on the community.

The street cricket programme, ‘StreetChance’, has broken down barriers between children living on different estates, encouraged non-sporty children to take up exercise and improved relations between police and teenagers, research from Loughborough University found.

The project has been running in 15 London boroughs since 2008. Today's report shows that more than 13,000 children and 94 schools have got involved since it first started.

Pupils play a faster version of cricket using a tennis ball covered in electrical tape, similar to matches that children play on the streets in Pakistan.

Mike Feeley, a teacher at Hackney Bridge Academy, said cricket is a "leveller" because none of his students have played it before so everybody is at the same standard, unlike football where non-sporty students may be excluded.

Researchers from Loughborough's Institute of Youth Sport interviewed students and cricket coaches to analyse the impact of the project.

The report states: "It was felt that the sense of belonging to a team and having a responsibility towards their teammates might help to deter young people from associating with gangs.

"One coach appreciated the role of ‘StreetChance’ in deterring young people from gang-related behaviour and he was proud of the role he had been able to play." The report said that cricket smoothed relations between religious groups. At one coaching session some Muslim boys were observing Ramadan, but non-Muslim boys wanted to eat beforehand. The report said they "deliberately avoided doing so in front of their Muslim teammates, something which the coach explained as an act of sensitivity."

Donovan Miller, a ‘StreetChance’ community coach, (and Cricket for Change Development Officer) in Hackney said: "In this area we have the Muslim kids, the Jewish kids, the West Indian kids, the English kids, and what I've got is them coming together playing a game. Now if the cricket wasn't there, who knows what they would be doing."

The project was set up by the Cricket Foundation's ‘Chance to Shine’ campaign, and has been backed by Barclays, the Metropolitan Police and Cricket for Change.

The Lord's and Commons XI won the toss and elected to bat in what was a first for the RCP boys, a timed cricket match. The RCP although enjoyed this format are much more used to limited overs games and with Ramadan in full swing, the RCP team looked as though they may struggle to come to terms with the day.

But, the RCP bowled beautifully all day and if it were not for visiting batsmen, Mellows-Facer and Modi, 66 and 40 not out respectively, The Lord's and Commons XI may not have put on the 184 for 8 they scored off nearly 47 overs.

The RCP used nine bowlers but the opposition were very impressed with the skill and fun brought to the proceedings by the RCP.

Having done the customary backflips and joviality, the RCP were brought back to earth with a bang as the somewhat unpredictable top order completely collapsed due to poor shot selection. At one point the RCP boys were tottering on 68 for 8.

However, one of the RCP's carefree batsman smashed his way to a quickfire 50 which brought some respectability CP total but the Lord's and Commons XI eventually bowled the RCP out for 124 to secure a win by 60 runs.

The game was very much played in the true 'Spirit of Cricket' and a special thanks to the Lord's and Commons team and their skipper, Chris White. 

But, with a year of batting coaching to come, maybe a win will be on the cards for the RCP at next years game?

Beth was presented with a coaching certificate by the former England player as part of the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme.  Beth has raised the awareness of disability cricket, having set up several disability clubs in Surrey, and ensures the clubs flourish.

Although Beth achieves so much just by getting all of her kids involved in the session’s one student in particular Ryan Jones is now a member of the Blind England Cricket Club. Beth’s MLD County team achieved a clean sweep of all six county championships a huge achievement when she had a very young squad of players, her unique style and motivation techniques allow her to communicate effectively to all players at all levels.

Following the presentation Beth commented, “I have had a brilliant day, really good to show all the hard work that grassroots coaches are putting into the game. I would like to thank Danny Baker and Cricket for Change for helping me achieve all I have done and I hope I can continue to do more with the help of the Sky Sports Coach Education Programme.”

The Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme aims to attract and train coaches at all levels of cricket in England and Wales, from schools cricket to the international game.  Since the beginning of Sky’s sponsorship in 2006 over 23,000 coaches have gone through the scheme, more than triple the original target.

There have been 10,000 newly qualified coaches in the last 12 months which is 77% up on the first two year and now for every professional cricketer in England and Wales, there are over 100 grass root coaches. 

Main article from the Sutton Guardian and Sutton Guardian.co.uk on Wednesday 1st September 2010

The 2010 event was watched and enjoyed by many spectatators, including the London Metropolitan Police (with whom C4C work with on the ‘StreetChance’ programme).

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Following ICWC, a Cricket for Change World XI was selected to play a T20 fixture against Sawbridgeworth CC from the Hertfordshire Cricket League late in the summer.

The World XI were represented on the day by players from the England, Pakistan, Bangladesh, West indies and Afghanistan teams that played in the ICWC .

Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club are a strong Hertfordshire league outfit and included some young 1st XI players and their Sri Lankan overseas player who has played international matches.

At the end of the 19th over the World XI only needed 18 to win but lost their last wicket with 4 balls remaining with the score on 136.

On reflection it was a good all round performance against some high quality and experienced league players, The Sawbridgeworth opening batsman commented that Luke Remice, the 15 year old West Indian opening bowler for the World XI, was as good as anyone they have come across playing 2nd XI league cricket and will be a player for the future.

A special thanks must go out to Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club who made us feel very welcome and went to the effort of putting out the strongest possible team for the World XI to match up against.

The Cricket for Change World XI look forward to playing Sawbridgeworth again during the Hertfordshire club's 2011 cricket week 

In the unusual position of being blessed with good Bank Holiday weather, the RCP won the toss and invited Town Malling, (who were still waiting for their Captain to arrive who was held up in traffic on the Purley Way) to bat first.

The RCP started with some very tight bowling and fine fielding with which they were rewarded by keeping Town Malling to a meagre 37 for 3 after 10 overs.  There was then some stubborn resistance from the visitors, particularly from Jake Smyth who hit a fine 56 (including a huge 6 which cleared the railway) and Darren Jempson with a hard earned 26.

However, the RCP bowling was too good with some notable performances of 3 for 15 and 3 for 29 from two of the RCP’s star bowlers. This all meant that Town Malling could not get away and collapsed to 129 all out as well as committing the error of not batting out all their overs (had 7 left to play).

Following the break, the RCP got off to a steady and measured start, held back by some top class bowling from Steve Elson and Matt Doyle of Town Malling.  But, despite a mini-collapse (and a tremendous one handed catch by TMCC's Andy Vale) all engineered by Darren Jempson with 3 quick wickets, it was with a superb and hard hitting 52 from the RCP’s number 3 and some other powerful hitting from the middle order (including another massive 6 over the railway), that ensured the RCP were able to cruise to victory by 4kwts.

Well done to the RCP and Town Malling look forward to welcoming the guys down to Kent next year to play on one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country.

We spoke to Alison to get a bit of an insight into her climb and support of C4C and this is what she had to say:

‘When I decided to climb Mount Kilimanjaro I thought it would provide a great opportunity to raise some money. I wanted to find a charity that focused on young people, and being a big sports fan (especially cricket) and believer in the good it can do, I chose Cricket for Change.  Sport, especially team sport, for me, is something that creates opportunities to mix with different people, develops very important skills – not least how to work with others, communication and leadership skills - and can be a means to improve self-esteem.

All of which young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or those with disabilities, will benefit hugely from. I have always played a sport of some kind and this is probably because when at school I grew to love sport, playing as many as I could, and this love continued into my adult life.  So I think it is great to encourage young people to get involved in sport as it is likely to be something that stays with them for life.

I was absolutely delighted that I got invited to meet both Aggers and Tuffers in the TMS box, and it was fabulous to get the chance to make an announcement live on air about the fund raising, and for Tuffers to explain all about the fantastic work that Cricket For Change does.’

Alison sets off to Tanzania on Tuesday (24th Aug. 2010), begins the trek on Wednesday and her final ascent to the top starts at midnight on Sunday night, so all being well she will be at the summit in the early hours of Monday morning.

The whole team at C4C would like to thank Alison for her support and wishes her well on her trek. We look forward to catching up with her on her return to the UK for a post climb report.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE C4C '3 PEAKS CHALLENGE' in 2011

Streetchance boroughs from across London came together to play 'Street20' cricket against each other and try and earn the title of being 'Streetchance champions'. Notable team performances were from Waltham Forest who are coached by Cricket for Change's very own Development Officer, Donovan Miller.

Donovan said; "I am very proud of our boys, they have not been playing cricket very long but have made so much progress in a short space of time"

Other great team efforts came from Newham who went on to win every game they played aprt from the final and have bonded really well as a team. Yesin Mahmud, from the Newham team, won ‘Player of the Tournament’ and as a prize at the presentation he was awarded with two tickets for the Saturday of the England vs. Pakistan Test Match at Lord's.

The tickets were very kindly donated by The Sky Sports ECB Coach Education Programme. Yesin went on to say; "I am so happy I am going to a test match, I have never been to an England game before and I can’t wait! Thank you Sky Sports very much"

The competition was won eventually won by Ealing who played some great cricket all the way through.  Well Done to all that took part!

The trip started at Gatwick Airport with a bright and early meet before we set off on the long 8 hour flight that lay ahead. The flight gave everyone a chance to get to know each other and play the odd prank on the person who may have nodded off first.

When we landed in Jamaica we were all feeling the length of the flight and were all very tired but we still had a 1 and half hour coach journey ahead of us....or so we thought. We got our bags and all met outside to be greeted by an old C4C colleague, Mikey Thompson. This meant a quite lot, to a few of the staff and players on the trip. As we stepped out of the airport and into the humid Jamaican air everyone chirped up as we made are way onto the coach. As we all got onto the coach, packed in like sardines, we began our journey to the hotel.

Our guide, ‘Bevan’, kept us entertained with music and jokes, but as we got about 45 minutes into the journey someone asked, ‘how long was left’, and Bevan said, ‘only another half an hour’ and everyone felt happy with that because they couldn’t wait to get to the hotel, have something to eat and get some well deserved sleep.  But 3 hours later, the coach was still going along the winding roads. We had enough but eventually we made it to our accommodation. We all settled in and helped ourselves to the buffet that was put on and ‘hit the hay’ for a big day ahead.

We then had an intense 4 day training period where everyone worked hard, despite the heat, and everyone on that trip showed why they where picked and why they deserved to be there. James Wischhusen (C4C HTT Peer Leader), said, “training in the heat was hard, but we all helped each other through it and it paid off in the end. The learning and physicals guys gelled really well with the V.I. (Visually Impaired) guys both on and off the pitch which made the trip easier for everyone.”

After the training we made our way to Kingston to play our matches. Both teams were playing a 3 day series of 20 over matches against the Jamaican national squads.

On the first day we played at Mona Hockey Field, with the V.I. guys playing first in the heat. They had some stiff competition with the Jamaicans being in the top 3 best V.I. teams in the world. You could see how hard it was to play out in the heat and they all worked there socks off. With a great knock from the skipper, Ryan Jones, they fought well but the Jamaicans had that bit more experience behind them.

Then it was the mixed ability team’s turn. With the heat bearing down on them, they went out and gave it their all and with another great knock from their captain, Lee Walker, and 3 Wickets for Ronnie Jackson, the Mixed ability guys strolled to victory. The whole time we played these matches the support from both teams was brilliant. Anytime the V.I. team played, the mixed guys where behind them and visa versa.

The next day we had a break and some time off and so we all went to a lovely beach where we would later go on a boat trip. With everyone excited about the boat trip it started to pour down with rain but in a way that added to the experience with there being fruit punch served up and loads of music. Everyone was dancing and having a great time on the boat especially watching Adam (Hall) (C4C Development Officer) trying to limbo!

We went on to play 2 more matches with the mixed guys winning their match and again the V.I. guys narrowly missing out. In the last match the V.I. guys bowled very well and fielded their hearts out but the Jamaican bowling attack was to strong. The mixed ability game got called off due to a down pour which Adam (Hall) and Bassie (Alex Bassan, C4C Development Officer) took full advantage of and swan dived and slid across the water logged pitch.

That night we were invited to an event hosted by the British High Commissioner. Everyone was having a laugh and mingling with the opposition properly we then played some V.I. cricket to show people how it is played. After this everyone was called in for an end of tour ‘thank you’, by Andy Dalby-Welsh (C4C Director of Programmes) and when he was finished he called up Bassie to end the tour by singing the national anthem in front of everyone. As Bassie, literally having no voice left, got up and belted it out he started to realise he was being stitched up but he carried on and sung strong till the end.

Everyone that went on the trip will all have their own stories, experiences, their highs and lows to tell but this is one trip that none of us won’t forget in a hurry.

By Alex Bassan
Cricket for Change Development Officer

'Peace at the Crease' (PATC) was set up to aid the London Metropolitan Police in becoming more involved within the 'Streetchance' programme by helping them build stronger relationships with the young people on the programmes and also highlight the strength and effectiveness of the 'Streetchance' initiative.

This will involve teams from the MET police coming along a regular basis to the 'Streetchance' community sessions and talking to and playing games against the young people - exactly what happened during the launch in East London!

In the London Borough of Waltham Forest, where the launch took place, is the Priory Court Estate, Walthamstow. This estate is blighted with youth crime and has a very strong gang culture.

Cricket for Change Development Manager, Adam Hall and Cricket for Change coach, Perry Sophocleous both grew up locally to the estate and know the issues surrounding the estate.

The PATC launch saw England & Middlesex batsmen, Owais Shah, in attendance who played alongside the police and young people. There were 40 young people from the estate at the launch, ranging from 6  to 19 years of age.

One young person said, “It’s hard living round here but it’s great we get to play cricket every week with Adam & Perry. They are showing us that gangs are not good and when I get to 16 I really want to do the cricket apprenticeship to get away from this life of crime”.

Adam (Hall) added, “Growing up locally when I was younger I knew all the issues surrounding the estate and wanted to make a change to this estate using cricket. 'Street20'* has the power to change these young people’s lives and put them into something positive just like I did.  All these kids can relate to me and Perry and I know a lot of their older brothers and sisters. But our number one aim is to show positive messages to the outside world of the good the young people of this bad area are doing”.

Cricket for Change want to thank Gulsun Faik at 'Circle 33' for her ongoing efforts in making the 'Streetchance' programme better on the Priory Court Eestate. She is a true star to many young people, living locally and is also a star in the eyes of Cricket for Change.

'Peace at the Crease' is due to be rolled out amongst all 15 'Streetchance' based London Borough's.

* - 'Street20' is the form of cricket devised by Cricket for Change and used in the 'Streetchance' programme.

The RCP bowled well with good pace and direction and after the 16th over, Chigwell at 62 for 2 and the game was well poised. Chigwell opener, Briggs, batted beautifully playing some wonderful shots but had it not been for a tickle down the leg side, his 84 could well been a big hundred.  There was also quickfire 38 from Chigwell's, Stevens, but The RCP responded well to being under the cosh with one RCP player bowling 8 quick overs and deservedly earning 2 for 21 and his 2 wickets and so restricting Chigwell to 197 for 7 at the break. 

The RCP's preparation for their innings during the involved the perhaps to most but not this team, dancing with one RCP lad going too far with 11 straight backflips that any gymnast would be proud. If only the RCP could bat as well as they danced.

The RCP innings got off to a flyer and after only 6 overs they were 45 for 1 and just needed to keep their cool for the rest of their innings but sadly, their shot selection and naivety cost them dearly.  Chigwell's Shansudin (4 for 20) and Stevens (3 for 13) sliced through the middle and lower order as the RCP lost 9 wickets for just 36 runs. Seven of those being lost due to careless shots.

The RCP will come back stronger and will look forward to seeing Chigwell again next year. All the RCP would like to thank Mr Griffiths for all his generosity over the two games we played at Chigwell and also thank the Chigwell players for being such wonderful hosts and really playing the game as it should be played, tough but with the Spirit of Cricket shown throughout.

Here's to next year!

Surrey, having won the toss and deciding to bat, Green and Lodge went about business as usual with great flair and gusto but both were unlucky not to develop on their  fine starts before Lee Stenning took over.

Stenning, compiled an immaculate 126 not out including one huge six over the railway end of Plough Lane and with Akmal and Fraser adding tidy 30's themselves, the Isle of Wight looked somewhat daunted and exhausted by the 276 for 5 amassed by the Surrey side.

As predicted, it didn’t get much better for the Islander's who batted valiantly amid some beautiful bowling by Gale and Young but once again, the spin twins of Kenward and Green shared 7 wickets with 6 of those going for less than 11 runs.

Kenward bowled well with 3 for 21 and Green bowled 3 gorgeous deliveries to pocket himself a hat trick and immediate bundle. His 4 for 6 off 3 however couldn’t take the man of the match award of captain Stenning who lead from the front all day.

Many Thanks to the Isle Of Wight team who were an absolute credit to themselves and to the BACD Championship and Surrey will relish their semi-final match in August, probably against Cheshire.

On a very sunny Thursday 1st July at South Loughton CC saw the 3rd annual Essex 'Hit the Top' Schools Festival. This annual festival celebrates all the hard work the schools on the 'Hit The Top' programme have put into their sessions in 2010.

The teams participating this year were...

• Trinity School, Dagenham
• William Morris School, Walthamstow
• Eastbrook School, Dagenham
• Little Heath School, Ilford
• Dycorts School, Romford
• Brookfield House School, Woodford

The format is such that everyone plays each other once all ending with a grand final to decide the 'Hit The Top' champs 2010. Each game is 10 overs with 10 players per side.

There has been a massive improvement in ability and cricketing knowledge from all the schools and this showed in our grand final between Dycorts and Trinity.

Trinity were the defending champs from 2009 and looked good opening the batting scoring 120 off their 10 overs. Dycorts started well but fell just short with 119 runs off their 10 overs.

Roger Atkinson a teacher at Dycorts School said, “We always look forward to the HTT Festival. There are always lots of schools attending and because of 'Hit the Top', cricket is the number one sport in all our schools. We have kids from our school going to clubs which has never happened in the past and we thank Cricket for Change for all their hard work in making cricket the number one sport in SEN schools in Essex”.

Congratulations to Trinity School for defending their title but one question remains. Will anyone beat them next year?

Thanks go to Andrew Shields at South Loughton CC for their ongoing support of the 'Hit The Top' programme.

A blind person who cannot see
couldn’t play cricket, or so it would seem
but you watch him swing that bat
even Pieterson couldn’t sweep like that

A person who has only one leg
doesn’t hide his talent
to bowl a cricket ball with brilliant aim
due to his perfect balance

A learning disability
that makes it harder at school
doesn’t effect their amazing skill
when bowling a cricket ball

Cricket for Change brought this talent together
from north, south, east, and west
now give them a bat, ball and cricket field
and watch them at their best

By Georgie Gale - July 2010

Surrey couldn’t have started any worse losing openers, Lodge and England’s Stenning, in the first 5 overs and at 16-2, Green and Akmal had a job to do. With some lusty blows and sensible running, both notched up good 30’s and at drinks, the boys were 100-2 after 13 overs and looked set to build up a huge total.

Sadly batsman came and went and Surrey lost 8 wickets for 29 runs in a batting collapse to rival no other with Essex's Walker claiming 5 of Surrey’s batsman. Essex bowled well and were in the box seat at the halfway stage.....but it is a funny old game…..

Surrey bowled beautifully at the start but to no avail and Essex lost their first wicket in the 9th over with their score on 24. Then the curse of the dreaded drinks break struck again and brought a tirade of wickets. Stenning and Green picked up 3 a piece and the return of Bahar brought 2 beautiful wickets. Then it was the turn of the Essex batsman to come and go with only young Ronnie Jackson showing any resilience with a good 20 not out.

But, Surrey held their nerve and gained victory by 35 runs!  Both teams played well and contributed magnificently to a great match at a great venue.

For Surrey now, a win against Isle of Wight next week at Plough Lane (11^th July) will confirm their semi-final place in the BACD cricket league.

Following a spot of lunch and a tour around the historic grounds, the match got under way with The RCP being asked to bowl first on what looked like a very good batting pitch.

However, The RCP took wickets at regular intervals, although their fielding and field placement did stretch the imagination at times. Nevertheless, considering it was for many in the RCP side their first competitive game of cricket, to dimiss Eton for a score of 113 all after 24 overs was a clear indication of the ability and promise many have shown this year.

The batsmen in The RCP reply were rarely troubled and cruised to a fine 6 wicket win with several overs to spare. The RCP opener, who nearly carried his bat through, won the man of the match award with a patient and classy 38.

Many thanks go to everyone Eton who helped organise the day, as a fantastic time was had by everyone. We are looking forward to the developing relationship between the two sides, as Mr Beard, the coach of Eton, is already promising a more sterner test for The RCP next year.

Surrey were asked to bat first but Devon started well with 2 wickets falling in the first 10 overs - Green and Stenning the ones falling cheaply. Then entered, Lodge and Fraser, who with gusto and guile stroked the ball to all parts and so set up a tremendous 186 run partnership (which could well be a BACD record).

But Fraser fell to a beautiful delivery when on 76 which left Lodge to carry his bat through the innings with an immense, 157 not out.

Surrey were urged not to rest on their laurels when Devon went into bat. There was a wicket a piece for Gale and Young early on which meant that it was then the spin twins of, Green and Kenward, who took 2 wickets a piece as Devon batted courageously for their 60 all out.

Surrey won by 245 runs but full credit to Devon who are in their maiden season in the BACD and with their wonderful attitude will look to build on that for next season.

Surrey now move on to Essex knowing that a win will ensure them of a Semi Final berth if other results go their way.

None of MCC’s opponents yesterday can be named for legal reasons and their own protection, nor can their faces be photographed. They were all asylum-seekers playing for the Refugee Cricket Project, nine Afghans, one Bangladeshi and one, the only player not in his teens, a Tamil refugee from Sri Lanka. Before coming to Britain, none had played cricket with a hard ball or on a turf wicket.

The project is run by Danny Baker, a coach with the Cricket for Change programme set up after the Brixton riots in 1981 to support troubled youths. Every Thursday evening, 40 or more refugee children attend a centre in South London for nets, training or simply to watch DVDs of international cricket. Children from Iran, Eritrea and Albania have tried cricket this way.

Three are being trained by Baker to become qualified cricket coaches. He is also organising a tour to Scotland in August. It clashes with Ramadan, but the coach has agreed to join their fast if they try British cultural activities such as eating (halal) haggis and reading Robbie Burns. As if English lessons were not hard enough.

Yesterday, they gave a fine account of themselves. MCC lost two wickets in the fourth over but reached 249 for six in 40 overs. In reply, the refugees showed heart before being dismissed for 199. “They have unbelievably good hand-eye co-ordination and love to bowl fast,” Baker said. “They lack batting nous but if they hit the ball it will stay hit.” Ten balls cleared the ropes for six yesterday.

MCC has a strong relationship with Afghanistan. Mike Gatting led a tour to play them in 2006; Matthew Fleming, the former Kent captain, has been developing cricket in the country and two Afghans spent a summer at Lord’s as MCC Young Cricketers. MCC also sponsored Afghanistan in the recent World Twenty20 and one of the prized possessions of the refugee project is a replica Afghanistan shirt from that tournament, which the best player each week can wear.

There are more than 4,200 children in Britain who were sent here through agents by parents in dangerous countries who felt it was the only way of saving their lives. It was reported this week that there are proposals to return 12 children a month to Afghanistan, but that would not be welcomed by those playing yesterday, such as the 17-year-old captain, who has been here for three years.

“I grew up playing cricket with a tennis ball on the streets in Jalalabad,” he said. “My uncle was a Taleban commander, who wanted my father to join them and give money. My father refused. The problems started from there.”

“Problems” is a euphemism for a tragic story, but the father saved his son’s life, if not his own, by arranging for him to be smuggled away. The player is determined to make a go of things, if allowed to remain. After passing basic qualifications, he is studying for a diploma in applied science and wants to become a doctor.

Then there is his Tamil team-mate, who escaped the civil war in 2008. “My father and my brother are no more,” he said before talking, like any other cricket-mad youth, about how he wants to bat like Sachin Tendulkar.

Indeed, apart from the desperate stories that brought them here, these young men are no different to MCC’s usual opponents. They are polite, sporting and passionate about the game.

Antonia Cohen, who co-founded the project with Baker, said: “They are unwitting ambassadors for Afghanistan because of their attitude and their manners. They permeate areas of British life that refugees don’t usually reach.”

The day will outline what the Apprenticeship Scheme is all about; how it works and including a few testimonies from current and past Apprentices. It should take no more than an hour so if you need more information before attending, please contact:

Danny Baker on 07796 266 212 or by e-mail: dannybaker@cricketforchange.org.uk

Surrey took to the field first and bowled beautifully to restrict Hampshire to only 129. Surrey's John Kenward continued his good form with another 3 wickets along with excellent assistance from, Young, who chipped in with 2 wickets.

For the Surrey innnings, Hampshire cleverly opened with a spinner which proved to be Surrey's downfall. The young Surrey side found the slow bowling to tempting with only Stenning (38 n.o) offering any resistance.

Congratulations to Hampshire and Surrey will look to bounce back when Devon are the visitors to The Cricket Centre on Sunday June 20^th.

Check out current League Standings here - Southern Hardball League

C4C got off to a flyer, with former Middlesex CCC batsman, Shaun Leavy and Arfan Akram (of the new Clydesdale Bank 40 over side, The Unicorns and The MCC) hitting the ball to all parts of the ground. It looked like we were going to set a big score as after 10 overs C4C had 100 on the board. There was also a beautiful and stylish 50 from C4C staff member, Tony Jopseph. However, after the fall of his wicket we began to lose regular wickets but managed to set a total of 256 for the Army to win. 

After a fine lunch, C4C started well in the field with skipper, Donovan, getting 2 early wickets with the new ball along with Simon Pullan (who supports C4C on the Refugee Cricket Project) picking up a couple of wickets as well. But then the strong Army batting line up began to make inroads into their target.

Another point to note was the sucessful match had by three of the young lads from our Refugee Cricket Project. They all got into the game and played very well and looked to have had an enjoyable time.  They all contributed with the ball and at one stage two of the lads combined to take the wicket of the Army's opener, for 97, with one bowling and the other taking a maginificient steepling catch on the boundary.

In the end we lost the game but that did not matter because we met some new people and contacts to talk about the charity to and for which the charity received plenty of support and admiration for. 

We are already looking forward to next years match!

The side were dominant throughout and messrs Gale, Young, Lodge and Green all picked up high class 50s before our bowlers bowled with discipline and control in dismissing Devon for 78.

Congratulations to all for all their hardwork and commitment at training and matches and the boys look forward to the Isle of Wight visit on Sunday 23rd May.

Please give generously and if anybody would like a fixture against the team, please contact Danny on dannybaker@cricketforchange.org.uk


Click here if you are interested in Fundraising for Cricket for Change

They chatted about all aspects of Cricket for Change's work including the first ever hard ball disability cricket team being run in partnership with Surrey CCC.

You can listen to their interview via the above link. The interview starts approximately 43 minutes into the programme.

*Remember that the BBC iPlayer is available for 7 days*

Alex and other Cricket for Change staff were in Sri Lanka as part of a sustainable cricket development programme commissioned by the ICC along with ICC  partner charity Peace and Sport and UNICEF, Sri Lanka Cricket Board and the British High Commission. The main aim of the programme is to identify 24 former child soldiers from the three Child Soldier Rehabilitation Camps in Sri Lanka and give them the opportunity to train as Cricket Peer Leaders.

Here are some excerpts from Alex’s diary he wrote during his trip to Sri Lanka….If you wish to read the full version, please follow the link at the bottom of these excerpts.

Monday 15^th March 2010

After an uncomfortable long plane journey we had a gruelling drive to the hotel. With everyone feeling the flight and tiredness spirits were high and everybody was looking forward to starting. It was 05:00 when we arrived at the hotel and with a few people managing to get a few hours sleep in we were up and ready to leave at 07:15………….

Tuesday 16^th March 2010

……I always enjoyed the lunch break, not just because we had the ‘buffet of all buffets’ (we were never disappointed with the lunch that we had) but it gave us a chance to communicate with the other kids around the college and to get out of the intense heat. I always found this time a reflection time for me to look around and see what they have and how lucky I am to have what I have. I would interact with the younger kids who are not involved in the project and just give them catches and do silly handshakes with them; something that would put a smile on their face for the rest of the day…….

Wednesday 17^th March 2010

………..When the games had finished we got them back into the class rooms and decided to have a group discussion about the games and how we could improve on them and how they felt they could demonstrate the games better. 

This gave me a chance to search for a bottle of water and in doing so I bumped into some students from the college. I managed to find out some stories from them, they spoke very little English but………After lunch we moved more into their emotions. We got them playing a few games and got them to understand that if they used offensive language against each other or if they where to run a match how would they feel and how they would effect everyone around them.

Thursday 18^th March 2010

………Team 1 managed to get to 8 ....team 2 got to 8 .....then team 1 got to 9..... then when team 2, with a speedy count got to number 12, they jumped up out of their seats running around the room like they had just struck gold!

This was the moment for me that I realised we had made a change.

You go back four days and these kids didn’t speak to each other, hardly made contact with us as coaches. It was a very quiet first day compared to now with all the smiling, laughing and being young leaders together.

Friday 19^th March 2010

Friday morning came and it was another boiling hot day perfect to get some early rays on the already suntanned Bass-man (that’s me – Alex!)……. When the games were all done we had a presentation along with a speaker from each organisation….But, then two of the young leaders got up to say a few words….. Her words just rolled off her tongue and everyone was listening to what she had to say……turned her life around and gave her a new chance in life…… Then a young man came up to speak,……. But then he said ‘C4C always remember the glass is never half empty, it is always half full’…..…… I took 5 minutes to myself to go outside and have a look at what was going on around me and to have a think over the week that had just been. It was a real eye opener……..

Read Alex's diary by downloading it in full via the link below.

View More about Cricket for Change in Sri Lanka here

View some of the photo's from Sri Lanka on our Flickr pages here

Having won the toss and bowling in overcast conditions, the RCP boys struggled with their footing and line and lengths but two quick wickets reduced the Beddington side to 25 for 2 after 6 overs.

Unfortunately a good partnership along with some very wayward bowling didn’t help the RCP’s cause even despite a late flurry of wickets which led to one of the RCP boys securing figures of 3 for 11. Beddington Academy must have been confident of winning after the target of 135 they set had to be made in rapidly fading late.

Bearing this in mind, the RCP flew out of the blocks and after one over which yielded 20 runs, the RCP were well above the run rate and looked to try and secure a victory that seemed unlikely throughout. As always, the downfall for the RCP, is spin, as they become bamboozled by a slow bowler’s flight and guile.

As the game reached its closing stages, the RCP boys required 24 runs from the last 3 overs with only two wickets remaining. A few good shots brought them within 12 runs of Beddington but the result and the fading light was against them. The RCP were disappointed but gracious in defeat after ending on 122 all out.

The RCP will be enjoying Afghanistan’s efforts in the 20/20 world cup in the West Indies and hoping for a better performance against Carshalton Boys who are next up for the RCP on May Thursday 6^th May.

Cricket for Change deliver this initiative on behalf of the ICC.

Click on the following link to hear Andy's interview in full - C4C on the ICC - It is Show 44 and Andy's interview starts at around 9mins and 30 secs into the programme.

The group were a tad nervous but focused on the job in hand and just before 11am the group left Lord's for Baker Street, Hyde Park, Victoria, Vauxhall Bridge and after 90 minutes arrived at The Oval much to the delight of the fans and supporters who cheered us to our first check point.

It was only here after 4 miles that the enormity of the task truly set in and then it was a matter of getting through the pain barriers by walking and running through Brixton, Streatham, Thornton Heath, Norbury and Waddon until we would finally reach the C4C centre in Wallington.

Bananaman and the worst David Haye lookalike were fellow runners. The journey was broken up by emotional talks from a Head Chef and Superman was a victim of cramp more than once along the torturous journey (possibly for the first time in his long career).

Organiser Adam Hall, valiantly battled through with a bad knee and Andy Dalby-Welsh's crash into a lamp post could have put the mockers on the occasion but the group shared dug deep and spurred each other on to get to the finish line.

The emotion was overwhelming at the finish with many just collapsing at the line and the sheer thought of climbing upstairs to the bar was too much for most but a fantastic effort by all.

Particular credit must go to the runners who are raising money for the young people and not even travelling to Jamaica, it just shows the sheer admiration and effect these great young people have on others. It was also fantastic to get such a wonderful reception in our greatest hour and it is something that should be repeated every year - just without me running it.

Thanks to Danny Baker for his emotional report on a emotional day.

They will be taking on this challenge in order to raise funds for the Cricket for Change Visually Impaired Development tour to Jamaica in July 2010. 

There are around 15 people taking part in the run.  They will be meeting at the MCC Indoor School at Lord’s cricket ground at 10:15am for a quick warm up after which the group of runners will head off on their route around London. 

The runners will also be stopping at certain places on route to raise even more funds and then finishing up at The Cricket Centre in Plough Lane, Wallington between 2pm and 3pm.

But the most fundamental rule of the day is that the runners will be running in fancy dress. 

The idea for the run came from Adam Hall, Cricket for Change Development Manager, and if you wish to make a donation then please visit his 'JustGiving' page at www.justgiving.com/adam-hall

Good Luck to all those taking part.

The team will be entering the British Association for Cricketers with Disabilities (BACD) Surridge Sport Southern Hardball League playing matches against the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Essex and Devon.

Danny Baker, Cricket for Change Development Officer and Team Co-ordinator, said, "We have a good crop of young players but are searching for some older players who can help the younger ones really achieve great heights this summer. It is a major honour to represent the county in a national competition".

If you are an interested player or know of any players of any age who have a disability and would love to have the opportunity to represent Surrey C.C.C. please contact Danny Baker on 07796 266 212 or at dannybaker@cricketforchange.org.uk

Andy chatted to Rhod about the activities that Cricket for Change were doing with a group of former Sri Lankan child soldiers (boys and girls). This is a project that is run in partnership with UNICEF and the International Cricket Council.

Follow this link to listen to Andy on 'Up All Night', first broadcast on Thursday 18th March. 2010. You can fast forward to the interview which begins 3hrs, 37mins and 37 seconds into the programme.

(NB the BBC's IPlayer will provide access to 'Listen Again' for one week only)

Find out more about the work Cricket for Change is doing in Sri Lanka here

With the high winds experienced at Lords on the launch day and throughout February, the winning balloon managed to travel 222 miles to Bampton in Devon.

The owner of the winning balloon was Mrs B from West Sussex who has duly been presented with a cheque for £100.  Over 550 balloons were sold and a fantastic £1150 was raised with all proceeds going towards the Jamaica tour.

The 2010 Jamaica tour, which follows on from the successful trip that Cricket for Change organised to Barbados in 2008 when they took a young visually impaired development team to play against the West Indies and Barbados Visually Impaired teams.

Cricket for Change now hopes to raise enough money to take two teams to experience international cricket, one team where the young cricketers are visually impaired and the other where youngsters experience moderate learning and physical disabilities.

If you would like to make a donation to the tour or Cricket for Change then please visit the Cricket for Change donation page on 'Justgiving'.

Mark Bond was introduced to visually impaired cricket when he was 15 through a Cricket for Change session at the West Way Centre, London. It was Mark's first experience of visually impaired cricket.  Mark hasn't looked back since. Following a Development Trip to Barbados organised by us he has broken into the Metro Cricket Club. Mark was put forward to England Trials and was thrilled this month to be named in the England Blind Squad to take on Pakistan in May 2010. For safety reasons the tour will take place in Dubai.

Mark said his highlight up until now was captaining the ‘Cricket for Change Pirates’ in Barbados but he can't wait to gain his first England Cap. Mark is now 19 and is studying Astro Physics at the University of Kent in Canterbury.

Mark will also become the first person born in Zimbabwe to ever represent the England Blind Cricket Team.  Mark plays in the B2 category.

Joel Robinson and Ryan Jones also students of Cricket for Change's Hit The Top programme and have been named as non-travelling reserves for the tour. This is a great achievement for both Joel, just 15yrs old and Ryan only 16yrs old who are sure to have great futures with the England Team.   

Well done lads, we're really proud of you!

Follow this link to listen to Andy on 'In Touch', first broadcast on Tuesday 9th Feb. 2010.

(NB the BBC's IPlayer will provide access to 'Listen Again' for one week only)

Further coverage on the visit can also be read below:

(1) New York Daily News  (2) New York Cricket   
(3) United States Cricket Association

Following his success in 2009 as Regional Award Winner, Adam (Hall) won the award for National Young Coach of the Year, supported by Sky Sports and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Adam says on his fine achievement, “I am extremely honoured to have won such a prestigious award. I have been challenged with some really difficult areas of work and this award shows that cricket is for everyone, whether I coach someone with a disability or someone at risk of committing crime offences, it to me is the most rewarding work I can do and this award shows the impact I am having. It’s fantastic”.

Adam is also embarking on a 15 mile run from Lord’s cricket ground to the Oval cricket ground and then onto Plough Lane in Wallington on April 3^rd in a effort to raise much need funding for the charity. To sponsor him then visit his fundraising page at JustGiving - www.justgiving.com/adam-hall

Cricket for Change, as a leading community cricket organisation, also gained further recognition for its project work for by winning the Europe Pepsi ICC Development Award for Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative, in Partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF. The award is in respect of the charity’s continuing ‘Cross Border Cricket Project’ in Israel.

Cricket for Change will be invited later in the year to collect their award at a ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

The programme in the USA is being made possible through the support of British Airways who are flying out the Cricket for Change Development Team which will be led by the charity’s Director of Programmes, Andy Dalby-Welsh, who is himself visually impaired and who played in two world cups for the England Blind Cricket Team.

The plan is to launch Blind Cricket in the USA on Saturday 30^th January 2010 with a demonstration of the sport at an indoor venue in Manhattan followed by a one day introductory training programme for coaches from the USACA and blind players from Visions.

Following the January launch the plan is to run a four day coaching programme running from April 23^rd to 26^th 2010 with each of the USA’s state cricket associations sending coaching delegates to New York for the training. The USACA and Visions have both said that they are very excited about this project for two reasons; (1) There are very few team sports that are suitable for blind people to play and; (2) there are even fewer team sports for blind people that involve regular international competition.

Cricket for Change President, Phil Tufnell said, “Our development team do some brilliant work overseas and this will be the about the 10th country we have introduced Blind Cricket into. I just wish I was going to New York with them but they haven’t invited me!”

Andy Dalby-Welsh, Cricket for Change Director of Programmes, said, “Having lost my sight when I was twenty.  Blind Cricket changed my life.  It gave me the opportunity to compete in an international team game and travel the world.  I hope that thousands of visually impaired Americans will soon have the same opportunity.”

Clifford Hinds from the United States Cricket Association (USACA) said, “This is a great opportunity for the USACA to reach out to a group that has not had the opportunity to participate in sports of any kind. We are confident that the programme will be a success and that it will grow from New York to many other major cities of the USA. Thank you, Cricket for Change”.

The ‘Hit The Top’ programme, now 2 years old, has been incredibly successful helping more than 2,300 young people with a disability in London access cricketing opportunities. As well as greatly increasing participation the project is changing lives.

The project which is funded through support from Sport England and The Lord’s Taverners creates comparable cricketing opportunities for disabled young performers to their able-bodied peers.  Since its introduction in 2008 14 young players have gone on to trial with their respective England Disability teams.  ‘Hit the Top’ has also enabled 28 young people with a disability to become professionally qualified cricket coaches. An aspiration that they would not have had the chance to achieve until ‘Hit the Top’ arrived.

Carew Manor School has embraced the ‘Hit The Top’ programme knowing the benefits that cricket can bring to its pupils.  Jamie Green, currently at Carew Manor, has recently been training with the England Learning Disability Development Squad.   Kathryn Briddock, former pupil, has a learning disability but was still invited to train with the Surrey Under 17s mainstream girls team this year.  Maggie Drummond, Carew Manor’s Head of Upper School supports the ‘Hit The Top’ programme tirelessly.  She supports the young people within the school and then when the holidays arrive she volunteers to drive the Surrey teams to their Inter-County fixtures.  

Sport England’s 3 year funding for the project will conclude in 2011 when Cricket for Change will be celebrating its 30^th anniversary. 

The successes of the ‘Hit The Top’ project in London over the last two years has led to Cricket for Change and The Lord’s Taverners looking at taking ‘Hit The Top’ UK wide and enhancing the opportunities for thousands more young people with a disability to improve their lives.

Minister for Sport, Gerry Sutcliffe said, “Hit the Top is a fantastic initiative, giving young people with a disability the chance to get involved in cricket, move up in the sport or become qualified coaches. I applaud the work of Cricket for Change and the backing that Sport England and the Lord’s Taverners have given the charity. I am looking forward to my visit to Carew Manor School to learn more about the project and meet some of the young people who are benefiting.”  

Andy Dalby-Welsh C4C Director of Programmes said, “’Hit The Top’ has been a wonderful success so far.  It is great to have the Minister for Sport coming to enjoy the programme and see how much the young people can achieve.  Our dream is to now take ‘Hit The Top’ nationwide and change even more lives for the better.”

Matthew Patten, Chief Executive of The Lord’s Taverners, said, “We envisage a future where all young people, irrespective of background and ability, have the everyday opportunity to play cricket and other competitive sports and enjoy physical activities to the benefit of their self-esteem, health, education and future socio-economic potential.  Hit the Top brilliantly provides young people with new opportunities to participate in cricket and enhance their social development.”

Martin Midgley, Head teacher of Carew Manor said, “We have a really close relationship with Cricket for Change and their input as part of the ‘Hit the Top’ programme has benefited all our pupils. We see cricket as a fantastic way of giving our pupils opportunities that they might not otherwise have had and the school is always buzzing about cricket. We are delighted to host Mr Sutcliffe and support Cricket for Change in any way that we can.”           

Contact for further information:

It meant that Cricket for Change took centre stage amongst exhibiting along side some very highly regarded charities.

British Airways and Cricket for Change are partners in our Overseas Programmes, most recently in November enabling us to go to Jamaica to help launch The Courtney Walsh Foundation.

The event, which took place at BA’s large headquarters, Waterside, near Heathrow provides an opportunity for charities to network as well as the chance for BA staff to find out about the work of Community Investment and the organizations they support.

The Courtney Walsh Foundation for providing opportunities for youths and meaningful changes in their lives through cricket, was launched yesterday and already has generated $11m in sponsorship.

The Foundation, which was launched at the Mona Hockey Field, received a whopping $7.5m from the British High Commission via the United Kingdom (UK) Aid and $3.5m from telecom provider LIME Jamaica.

Wayne Lawrence, vice-president, marketing at LIME, said Walsh represents what his organisation is looking for.

Said Lawrence: "For all of us in Jamaica and for cricket fans across the world, the honourable Courtney Walsh is truly an icon. For us at LIME Courtney embodies the value that we like to promote; particularly values like integrity, diligence, community and humidity".

He added: "Courtney is one of the most successful bowlers in the history of Test cricket. Throughout his playing career and afterwards, he has been a role model. His reputation is unblemished and whose example is unequal."

Outgoing British High Commissioner to Jamaica, His Excellency, Jeremy Cresswell, congratulated Walsh and his Foundation.

Said Cresswell: "The work that he is now doing is tremendous. We at the British High Commission are glad to be associated with his work." Cresswell then handed over his symbolic sponsorship cheque and had everyone laughing when he suggested that it be cashed real soon as he will be out of office.

Walsh's foundation, is a registered charity and will work in three main areas in:

• Street20 Cricket - a fast moving, affordable and sustainable version of the game to be introduced to an initial 12 inner city communities.
• Disability Cricket - "enabling the disabled" will involve the development of cricket programmes for three categories of disability. Visually impaired (blind), physically disabled (wheel chair) and learning disabled.
• Young Offenders project - using cricket in one of the juvenile correctional institutions to engage young offenders and support their transition from custody to community.

There are other long-term projects which will include the establishment of a Cricket Centre to further develop the skill base of various categories in the Foundation's programmes and the construction of infrastructural practice facilities in each adopted community.

Walsh, who said he defied doctors orders to rest from a throat ailment, thanked everyone involved in getting the Foundation up and running.

"Of course there will be challenges, but with the directors on board I am sure that we are all going to make it happen," said the Ambassador-at-Large.

He added: "This is a dream come true. The part that touches me the most, apart from the disability division, is the correctional centre. When I went there the first time it brought tear to my eyes".

A host of dignitaries spoke at the event, including Olivia Grange, the minister of sports; Dwight Nelson, the minister of security; former president of the West Indies Cricket Board and all time fastbowling great, the Rev Wes Hall; Billy Heaven, vice-president of the Walsh Foundation and CEO of the CHASE Fund, and Tom Rodwell, from London-based Cricket for Change (C4C) - an organisation, from which the basis of the above aims have originated, helps to restore harmony to warring fractions across the world through the medium of cricket.

Lindel Wright and Brian Breese of the Jamaica Cricket Association, also contributed to the proceedings.

(The article is found on www.jamaicaobserver.com - please note that Cricket for Change is not responsible for the content on any external wesbites)

Click here to see us in action in Jamaica.

What happened at the launch?
The launch of the foundation took place in Kingston, Jamaica on November 20^th and was a grand affair with over 500 people attending including two government ministers, the British High Commissioner and the Mexican Ambassador. Also present were West Indies cricketing legends Wes Hall, Jimmy Adams and of course Courtney himself.

Banks of TV cameras filmed the proceedings and the launch received extensive coverage on Jamaica TV and radio. In addition there were prominent features in Jamaican newspapers, the Daily Gleaner, the Saturday Gleaner, the Sunday Gleaner, the Daily Observer and the Sunday Observer.

The Foundation’s target groups are; Young people with a disability / Young people living in poverty / Young offenders and young people at risk of becoming involved in criminal activity.

The Foundation’s programmes
The Courtney Walsh Foundation will replicate the following groundbreaking Cricket for Change programmes which have been developed in the UK and implemented in countries around the world including Sierra Leone, Israel, Sri Lanka, Rwanda and South Africa. Through these programmes the Foundation will target males and females aged 8 to 21.

Whom did you meet? 
We met many valued and worthwhile people including some of those who will benefit from the Foundation itself.

Thanks must go to the Foundation’s partners in the form of;

So what is next for C4C's work in Jamaica?

Key dates for the Foundation are; 

January 2010 – Cricket Apprenticeship starts

March 2010 – Courtney Walsh Street Academy starts

July 2010 – Four match series for the Jamaica Physical Disability Cricket Team and the Jamaica Blind Cricket Team

In addition it was announced that Cricket for Change’s Head Coach Mikey Thompson would be joining the Foundation to help establish the programmes island wide.

Here is an article by Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer from the website www.sportsjamaica.com about the launch and the intended programme:

The soon to be officially launched Courtney Walsh Foundation is currently partnering with the British High Commission, the Ministry of Security and the Department of Corrections to help juveniles in some of the island's correctional centres.

The foundation, which has three pillars of existence, is currently conducting a three-month cricket clinic as a way of empowering inmates at the Rio Cobre Juvenile Correction Centre in St Catherine and according to the foundation's director of programmes, Brian Breese, they are delighted with the response thus far.

"One of the aims of the foundation is to use cricket to help young people and eventually adults, who have committed an offence and need help with their rehabilitation," said Breese, whose organisation on Tuesday night received $7 million towards the venture from the United Kingdom government, via the Department For International Development (DFID).

"Another is to help those who are living under depressed conditions in volatile communities, and third, to work with the disabled - the blind, those in wheelchairs, the physically, hearing and learning impaired (those with an IQ less than 70)," he added.

Pilot programme
The Rio Cobre programme, according to Breese, is being used to pilot the Walsh Foundation, which will be launched on Friday, November 20. It is being conducted by Robert Samuels and Mikey Thompson of the United Kingdom-based 'Cricket for Change' of which the Walsh Foundation, in the main, is modelling its activities. Mikey Thompson is on a three-month secondment from Cricket for Change.

 "After working with the juveniles we plan to work with inmates at the St Catherine District Prison and Tower Street Correctional Center, before turning our attention to children in communities in Kingston and Montego Bay," Breese said

(NB: Cricket for Change is not reponsible for content on external websites)

This annual event will take place at the prestigious London Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. The charity's President, Phil Tufnell will be speaking and the event is kindly being sponsored by Allen & Overy and Savills.

England visually impaired squad players; Simon Ledwith and Joel Robinson attended the day and helped out coaching the young people. Our man, Andy DW (former England VI player) ran a training session for teachers, teaching assistants, support workers and parents.

During this session the group were taught how easy it is to adapt sports so young people with a visual impairment can take part. Using simulation glasses we got the group to play a game of visually impaired cricket; this helped them to understand how small adaptions to any sports would allow young people with a visual impairment to take part.

Representatives from Blind in Business, British Blind Sport and LSF all attended the day and informed the attendees of what they can offer them.

The whole day was a great success with many of the young people interested in continuing with cricket training. These young people will now attend clubs in Middlesex and Essex. With the success of this day we are now planning a new day aiming to access students from the south London borough's, where we would intend to feed them into the Surrey and Kent's clubs.

Quotes of the day

‘Both of my children had a brilliant time, Jay enjoyed himself so much that he wants to go along to the Essex training on Sunday.’ Sarah Pock (Parent)

‘Thanks again for yesterday, the children and parents had a fab time including myself.’ Nazma Khanom TA Halley Primary School (Tower Hamlets)

For more information regarding this day please contact Bethan Evans on (07980) 454236 or bethevans@cricketforchange.org.uk

Essex, Middlesex, Kent and the defending champs Surrey played each other in 8 over matches with 6 players in a team.

Following the first round match results we were set up with these exciting semi-finals:

Surrey vs. Middlesex

Kent vs. Essex

In the first semi, Surrey showed why they are the force they are by whipping Middlesex in no time! A solid knock from Jay Ali of West Lea School, Middlesex saved some embarrassment for the North Londoners but with some really strong all round performances from the Surrey crew, they captured a place in yet another final!

The second semi was a lot closer; Essex posted a good score for Kent to chase down and an amazing onslaught by Chris Lodge of Penge Dragon School, saw Kent home with 2 over’s to spare.

In the final, Kent were looking to topple defending champs Surrey.  

Kent set a challenging score for Surrey to chase! Kent must have been hopefull following some early wickets but a good knock from Surrey's Jon Gale brought the defending champs home yet again!

C4C and Peace and Sport plan to run one programme in each of the following countries; Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. The first of these will be in Sri Lanka in February 2010.

The C4C team met with all of the main partners (including the ICC, Unicef, Peace and Sport, The British High Commission, UK Sport, Just in Time Group and Sri Lanka Cricket) in the proposed programme and also worked with a group of former child soldiers at Ambepussa Rehabilitation Camp.

The main aim of the programme is to identify 24  former child soldiers from the three Child Soldier Rehabilitation Camps in Sri Lanka and give them the opportunity to train as Cricket Peer Leaders .

Whom did you meet?
Cricket for Change met and would like to thank Nishantha Ranatunga, Colonel Modestus Fernando, Philippe Duamelle, Sanjeevani Munasinghe, Gill Westaway, Dominic Williams, Manori Unambuwe, Nick Pink and Jon Long for making our visit so productive and helping us to create the programme.

So what is next for C4C's work in Sri Lanka?
The programme will look to be in place by Feb. 2010 with continuing support from Cricket for Change and the programme partners.

President of Cricket for Change Phil Tufnell said: "To have support from British Airways is a real triumph for us - especially as the charity is growing internationally. Cricket is a fantastic sport to teach respect and discipline as well as grow self-confidence. With support from our partners we can help bring the game to youngsters from London to Lahore."

British Airways community investment manager Mary Barry said: "We are delighted to announce Cricket for Change as one of our charity partners. The partnership will enable us to engage colleagues internally as well as working with young people in the UK and overseas. Sport is a powerful way of enabling young people to make positive choices about their future whether engaging with positive role models, or diverting them away from challenges that they may face in their communities."

Times Available:

• Non-Peak Hours: 8:30am to 6:30pm Monday to Friday
• Peak Hours: 6:30pm to 10:30pm Monday to Friday; and 8:30am to 7:30pm Saturday's and Sunday's; all hours during domestic school holidays

Per Net Charges:

• Non-Peak: One Half Hour @ £12.50; One Hour @ £20
• Peak: One Half Hour @ £16; One Hour @ £25
• Coaches: Coaches are available at an extra £12.50 per half hour and £20 per hour

To enquire about availability please visit Sutton Cricket Club's website and fill in the 'Indoor School Enquiry Form'.

Concessions available and for further information or clarification please e-mail; info@indoorschool.net or telephone 07540 471 475

Andy received his well deserved award at a celebratory event in London from Philip Schofield and Myleene Klass.

Andy has since been interviewed on ITV's 'This Morning' programme and the 'Pride of Britain Awards' ceremony will be on ITV at 8pm tonight (Wed.7th Oct).

Everyone at Cricket for Change and all those with whom Andy works with and supports (past and present) are very proud of him - a huge congratulations and well done Andy!

1. View Andy Dalby-Welsh on 'This Morning' - You may need to download ITV Player
2. Here's a picture of Andy meeting the PM's wife at Downing Street

Left to right: Tom Rodwell, Chief Executive of Cricket for Change, Devon Malcolm, Matthew Patten, Chief Executive of The Lord’s Taverners, John Hooper, Chairman of The Lord’s Taverners, Roger Oakley, Lord’s Taverners Trustee, Mike Gatting and Ebony Rainford-Brent, member of the England Women’s Cricket Team