The 5th CBV charity event, kindly sponsored by, 'Capital Investments', is to be held at The Cricket Centre, Plough Lane in Wallington and will yet again help raise welcome funds for 'Cricket for Change'. For nearly 30 years, the charity has used cricket to make a positive impact on individuals and communities both in Britain and abroad. 

This is a unique event - great for cricket fans and non players alike.  Please come and enjoy a delicious lunch, free Pimms (courtesy of NatWest Bank), great networking opportunities and a great atmosphere is also promised!   The lunch will be followed by a 25/25 charity cricket match.

As part of the fundraising there will also be a charity raffle.  If you would like to attend the lunch, play in the match or donate a prize for the charity raffle, please download the relevant forms below and return to Karen Day (of CBV); Tel: 020 8681 8339 or email: kd@cbvltd.co.uk

'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.

There was definitely an air of excitement and anticipation amongst the Refugee Cricket Project (RCP) team, with some of the boys arriving at 9:30am for a 1230pm start! The RCP lads were obviously very keen to put up a good show against a much older London Met. side.

When the match got underway, The RCP team came out of the blocks slowly then after the drinks break, two batsmen steadied themselves and began a powerful hitting partnership. The partnership consisted of some quite massive 6’s and some superb cricket skills. The RCP wickets continued to fall but that added to the entertainment which also saw the 6’s raining down and over the Indoor School. After the allotted 30 overs, the RCP had amassed a huge 223 for 5 which was a daunting total for the students to hunt down.

After tea, The London Met innings started with a splutter with wickets falling at regular intervals before two of their batsman started dispatching the ball into the car park and nearby railway. The RCP then began to show signs of nerves and inexperience.

However, a few quick wickets calmed the nerves and put the game beyond doubt. The RCP turned out victors by 40 runs, a margin with which the whole project should be very proud about.

The boys were ecstatic after their first match and were very much looking forward to their next big game on the 29^th April at The Cricket Centre, against a tricky Beddington C.C. 1^st XI.

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.

If you are interested in the position then please view the Job Description below and send your application to office@cricketforchange.org.uk 

Closing Date for applications is 4pm on Friday 7th May 2010.

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.

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

Download this Press Release from the link below:

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.

  - Ends -

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'.

Following the recent visit to New York by the Cricket for Change Development team to help set up Blind Cricket in the USA, Andy Dalby-Welsh, Director of Programmes, was interviewed on BBC Radio 4's, 'In Touch', programme to say what happened on the visit and what plans are in store for the future of Blind Cricket in the USA.

  - Ends -

Notes to Editors:

• ‘Cricket for Change’ – “Using cricket to change the lives of disadvantaged young people" - have improve the lives of disadvantaged young people in London and worldwide for 30 years.  
• ‘Cricket for Change’ was born as the London Community Cricket Association (LCCA) in the aftermath of the 1981 Brixton riots to use cricket to bring back some harmony among the different ethnic groups in the Inner City. It has since become the world's leading community cricket charity.
• The main work of ‘Cricket for Change’ is carried out through its ‘Street20’ and ‘Hit the Top’ programmes, both within the UK and internationally. In the last 18 months they have worked with the ICC and UNICEF developing programmes in Israel, Sri Lanka, Jamaica and they are shortly heading to New York to use their expertise to introduce the game of Blind Cricket to America through support from British Airways. 
• ‘Hit the Top’ is a world leading and groundbreaking programme for young people with a disability. With Hit The Top, young people with a disability are able to access cricket provision comparable to their able-bodied peers.
• Over the last 5 years we have helped set up blind cricket programmes in Uganda, Panama, Cuba, Rwanda and Zimbabwe as well as throughout the Caribbean where we helped set up the West Indies Blind Cricket Team who competed in the last World Cup and who have become a powerful pressure group for blind people in the region. The programmes in Africa were in conjunction with Sightsavers International who used the programmes to promote their work both in the UK and in Africa.
• Website: www.cricketforchange.org.uk and E-mail: office@cricketforchange.org.uk
• To view Andy Sellins and Adam Hall follow this link on Parliamentary TV which was broadcast live on Tuesday 9 February 2010 at 10.30am.  Cricket for Change's time begins 1hr 23mins into the broadcast.
• To listen to Andy Dalby-Welsh on BBC Radio 4 follow this link on the ‘BBC iPlayer’, the interview begins approximately 14 minutes into the broadcast.

Contact Details
Andy Sellins, Acting Chief Executive, Cricket for Change
Mobile: 07960476733
E-mail: andysellins@cricketforchange.org.uk

Andy Dalby-Welsh, Director of Programmes, Cricket for Change
Tel No: 07786 238168
E-mail: andydw@cricketforchange.org.uk

Adam Hall, Development Manager, Cricket for Change
E-mail: adamhall@cricketforchange.org.uk

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

Adam Hall, a young cricket coach working for Wallington based cricket charity, ‘Cricket for Change’, has been further rewarded for his dedication and hard work in helping the lives of disadvantaged young people through the medium of cricket.

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.

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.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:

• ‘Cricket for Change’ – “Using cricket to change the lives of young disadvantaged people"
• ‘Cricket for Change’ was born as the London Community Cricket Association (LCCA) in the aftermath of the 1981 Brixton riots to use cricket to bring back some harmony among the different ethnic groups in the Inner City. It has since become the world's leading community cricket charity.
• The main work of ‘Cricket for Change’ is carried out through its ‘Street20’ and ‘Hit the Top’ programmes, both within the UK and internationally.
• ‘Cricket for Change’ has instigated a number of global cricket projects including in countries such as Sri Lanka, Israel, the West Indies, Cuba, Zimbabwe and South Africa
• Website: www.cricketforchange.org.uk and E-mail: office@cricketforchange.org.uk
• Adam Hall’s Fundraising Donation page - www.justgiving.com/adam-hall

Contact Details
Andy Sellins, Acting Chief Executive, Cricket for Change
Mobile: 07960476733
E-mail: andysellins@cricketforchange.org.uk

Adam Hall, Development Manager
E-mail: adamhall@cricketforchange.org.uk

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 tenth 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”.

  - Ends -

Notes to Editors:

• ‘Cricket for Change’ – “Using cricket to change the lives of disadvantaged young people" - have improve the lives of disadvantaged young people in London and worldwide for 30 years.  
• ‘Cricket for Change’ was born as the London Community Cricket Association (LCCA) in the aftermath of the 1981 Brixton riots to use cricket to bring back some harmony among the different ethnic groups in the Inner City. It has since become the world's leading community cricket charity.
• The main work of ‘Cricket for Change’ is carried out through its ‘Street20’ and ‘Hit the Top’ programmes, both within the UK and internationally. In the last 18 months they have worked with the ICC and UNICEF developing programmes in Israel, Sri Lanka, Jamaica and they are shortly heading to New York to use their expertise to introduce the game of Blind Cricket to America through support from British Airways. 
• ‘Hit the Top’ is a world leading and groundbreaking programme for young people with a disability. With Hit The Top, young people with a disability are able to access cricket provision comparable to their able-bodied peers.
• The ‘Hit The Top’ programme has been developed by Cricket for Change’s Director of Programmes Andy Dalby-Welsh.  Andy is visually impaired and was recently awarded a Pride of Britain Award for his successes in increasing opportunities for young people with a disability. 
• Cricket for Change set up and ran the England Blind Cricket Team for 10 years and were also one of the founding members of the World Blind Cricket Council.
• Over the last 5 years we have helped set up blind cricket programmes in Uganda, Panama, Cuba, Rwanda and Zimbabwe as well as throughout the Caribbean where we helped set up the West Indies Blind Cricket Team who competed in the last World Cup and who have become a powerful pressure group for blind people in the region. The programmes in Africa were in conjunction with Sightsavers International who used the programmes to promote their work both in the UK and in Africa.
• Website: www.cricketforchange.org.uk and E-mail: office@cricketforchange.org.uk
• The United States Cricket Association (USACA) is an Associate Member of The International Cricket Council responsible for promoting, encouraging and developing an interest and knowledge in the game of cricket throughout the United States of America.
• Website: www.usaca.org

 Contact Details
UK - Andy Dalby-Welsh, Cricket For Change Director of Programmes
Tel No: 07786 238168
E-mail: andydw@cricketforchange.org.uk

USA - Clifford Hinds – United States Cricket Association
Tel: 001 862 224 8662
E-Mails: hindsclifford@hotmail.com

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.”

              - Ends -

Notes to Editors:

• ‘Cricket for Change’ – “Using cricket to change young lives" - have improve the lives of disadvantaged young people in London and worldwide for 30 years.  
• ‘Cricket for Change’ was born as the London Community Cricket Association (LCCA) in the aftermath of the 1981 Brixton riots to use cricket to bring back some harmony among the different ethnic groups in the Inner City. It has since become the world's leading community cricket charity.
• The main work of ‘Cricket for Change’ is carried out through its ‘Street20’ and ‘Hit the Top’ programmes, both within the UK and internationally. In the last 18 months they have worked with the ICC and UNICEF developing programmes in Israel, Sri Lanka, Jamaica and they are shortly heading to New York to use their expertise to introduce the game of Blind Cricket to America through support from British Airways. 
• ‘Hit the Top’ is a world leading and groundbreaking programme for young people with a disability. With Hit The Top, young people with a disability are able to access cricket provision comparable to their able-bodied peers.
• The ‘Hit The Top’ programme has been developed by Cricket for Change’s Director of Programmes Andy Dalby-Welsh.  Andy is visually impaired and was recently awarded a Pride of Britain Award for his successes in increasing opportunities for young people with a disability. 
• ‘Cricket for Change’ has instigated a number of global cricket projects including in countries such as Sri Lanka, Israel, the West Indies, Cuba, Zimbabwe and South Africa
• Website: www.cricketforchange.org.uk and E-mail: office@cricketforchange.org.uk
• Carew Manor is a Community Special School in Wallington, Surrey, primarily for pupils with moderate learning difficulties, but also for some pupils who have additional difficulties whether they are physical, social, emotional, or behavioral. It is a mixed school of Non Denominational religion.
• Website: www.carew-manor.sutton.lgfl.digitalbrain.com
• The Lord’s Taverners is a youth sports charity whose objective is to give young people a sporting chance. This year The Lord’s Taverners will donate nearly £2.5 million to help young people of all abilities and backgrounds participate in sporting activities by channeling funding into specific schemes.
• The Lord’s Taverners promotes youth cricket, particularly in disadvantaged areas – providing grants towards Non-Turf pitches, funding for youth cricket competitions and donating hundreds of cricket bags to clubs and school teams across the UK.
• The Lord’s Taverners supports recreational and sporting activities for youngsters with special needs – donating specially adapted minibuses and sports wheelchairs giving young people vital transportation and access to sport, and providing grants for play and sports equipment.

Contact Details
Andy Dalby-Welsh, Cricket For Change Director of Programmes
Tel No: 07786 238168
E-mail: andydw@cricketforchange.org.uk

Martin Midgley, Head Teacher
Carew Manor School Contact:
Tel: 020 8647 8349
E-mail:  mmidgley@suttonlea.org

Photographs will be available following the visit.

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:

NEW INDOOR SCHOOL
On Wednesday 23rd Sept. 2009, the new Cricket for Change Indoor School based at the Cricket Centre on Plough Lane in Wallington was officially opened. The event was attended by Devon Malcolm C4C’s Vice President, Mike Gatting, ECB Partnerships MD and Ebony Rainford-Brent of the England Women’s cricket team.

The event was supported by representatives from the organisations that helped make the Indoor School a reality; The Lord’s Taverners, The London Marathon Charitable Trust, Viridor and The Cloth makers Foundation. A huge thank you must also go to Croydon Business Venture for also supporting the day and to the dedicated work of Paul Wickham.

The Cricket for Change Indoor Cricket School will be run by Sutton Cricket Club so please e-mail; info@indoorschool.net or call 07540 471 475 for further information about bookings.

AWARDS FOR DEDICATED CRICKET FOR CHANGE STAFF
Staff at Wallington cricket charity, ‘Cricket for Change’, were recognised for their dedication and hard work in helping the lives of the young through the medium of cricket.

Andy Dalby-Welsh, the charity’s Assistant Director of Programmes, was the national winner of the ‘ITV Pride of Britain Feel Good Factor Award’. Following an appearance on ITV’s ‘This Morning’ and a visit to No.10 Downing Street, Andy said, "The week was unbelievable. I spent two days at Number 10 Downing Street with the Awards evening in the middle.  When they read out my name as the winner I was just blown away."

Other staff to have gained recognised for their work include, Adam Hall, Coach and Development Officer, who won the ECB and Sky Sports Young Coach of the Year for the East Award; Beth Evans, also a Coach and Development Officer, was recognised with an ‘Outstanding Coaching Achievement’ and won ECB and Sky Sports Young Coach of the Year for Surrey and Essex” and Coach, Alex Bassan won the Young Leader Award for his work on national cricket project, ‘Chance to Shine’

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS IN ISRAEL
In April of this year, Cricket for Change, went to the Negev in the desert of southern Israeli. For two days, schoolchildren from the Bedouin village of Hura were coached in bowling, batting and fielding.  Teams comprised of Bedouin and Jewish children and saw the Snakes play the Lizards; the Camels play the Lions.

Tom Rodwell, CEO of C4C said, "Here we have a chance with the young kids: they've not yet been brainwashed into separation, and there's no need for it. That might sound naive. But there isn't any need. And so these kids now are all playing happily together. And hopefully maybe they can grow up together. And then maybe some of the problems could be solved."

After the success of that week, the C4C development team plan to return to Israel in the Spring to help set up part two of the Israel Cricket Association’s Friendship Programme with Arab and other communities across Israel.

The first part of the programme was in and around Beer Sheva in the south and part two will be in the Golan Heights in the north. Part three is planned for Autumn 2010 in Jerusalem.

The trip was widely covered by BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC World News, The Guardian Newspaper and Michael Atherton in The Times Newspaper

CATCH THE SPIRIT WITH THE ICC IN SRI LANKA AND INDIAN SUB CONTINENT
In the summer of 2009 Cricket for Change (C4C) was commissioned by the ICC to set up four sustainable cricket development programmes in the Indian sub-continent by May 2011.  A successful scoping visit by Cricket for Change took place in Sri Lanka between October 20th and 22^nd 2009.

These programmes were to be set up in conjunction with ICC partner charity Peace and Sport. The overall aim of these programmes is to show how cricket can be used as a force for good in areas of disadvantage and conflict.

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.

 MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN JAMAICA
A group of coaches and staff from C4C and the 2^nd Chance Project went out to Jamaica (with the support of British Airways) to help launch the Courtney Walsh Foundation.

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.

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.

 NEWS IN BRIEF

THE LORD’S TAVERNERS HIT THE TOP
This fantastic programme this year gained the full support of the Lord’s Taverners and now time to watch this initiative grow nationwide during 2010.

WEST INDIES TRIUMPH AT THE INNER CITY WORLD CUP
This annual event, now in its 6^th year, took place in August again at MCC’s Indoor School at Lord's. This years winners were the West Indies and the event was sponosred by Investec.

APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME
This fantastic programme, run by C4C Training Officer and Coach, Danny Baker, saw a number of young apprentice’s recognised and awarded for their hard work in this C4C initiative. The ceremony took place on the day of the opening of the new indoor school.

Alex Bassan, now a C4C coach and Apprentice graduate, says, “The Apprenticeship scheme at Cricket for Change offers young people a chance to make a difference to their lives and other people’s lives. It’s a great opportunity to learn and create new ideas and put them into practice”.

CRICKET AT THE HAC
In September an 8 / 9 a side cricket event took place in the wonderful setting of the Honourable Artillery Club ground in central London. The event was sponsored by London Met. University and Investec. Teams included a talented Cricket for Change team made up of youngsters from Hackney Community College, Investec, London Met. and GVA Grimley. Investec and Cricket for Change met in a close and hard fought final with Investec being the eventual winners.

CENTRE STAGE AT THE BA COMMUNITIES DAY
Cricket for Change President Phil Tufnell officially opened the British Airways Communities and Conservation Open Day on the 9th December 2009.

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.

COMIC RELIEF AND YOUNG OFFENDERS
Comic relief have funded our Street Team programme for ex young offenders training 15 of them to be cricket coaches over the next three years and then once qualified coaching on our programmes.

This programme will start in January and will be run in conjunction with the 2nd Chance Project based at HMP Ashfield (www.2ndchanceproject.co.uk)

GOING TO THE USA
The C4C development team will be helping to set up blind cricket in the USA in late January. The launch will take place in New York and a coach training programme planned for late April will involve delegates from across the US.

The plan is for the new USA team to enter the regional competition held in the Caribbean each July and the Blind Cricket World Cup held every four years. The next World Cup is due to be held in the UK in the summer of 2011.

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
A huge thank you must go to all the groups, organisations and individuals’ people who work hard to raise money for the Cricket for Change cause. Here are some highlights; London Metropolitan University Business School Fashion Show in March; Stephen Knighton who ran the Mazda Triathlon event in London in August; the annual Croydon Business Venture T20 match at the Cricket Centre in Wallington and The APB Annual Fundraising Dinner in November.

NEW WEBSITE - www.cricketforchange.org.uk
Back in November we re-launched our website with the wonderful support of Include Digital and Andy Greaves of Red Digital.   Please have a look and watch it as it grows and develops during 2010.

2010 and Beyond!
Watch out for more exciting plans and events from Cricket for Change in 2010.

A NOTE FOR YOUR DIARY
2011 is the charity’s 30^th birthday!

Finally, Cricket for Change would like to offer Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year to all its supporters, partners and the young people who take part in all our events!

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.

Cricket for Change will offer the post holders the opportunity to work in a pioneering, exciting and fast moving charity, that aims to improve the lives of young disadvantaged people in London and Overseas using the vehicle of cricket.   

The post holders will recruit a group of young volunteers with either a learning disability, a physical disability or a visual impairment who will feedback on Cricket for Change’s Hit The Top programme.  The post holders will be supported to control a small budget and with their team of volunteers develop a marketing strategy that increases participation in the Hit The Top programme.  The post holders will also develop a programme that enables them to present to young people with a disability who are educated in mainstream education.   The post holders will also have the opportunity to work alongside Cricket for Change’s Development Team at a strategic level and feedback directly to Trustees on the charities performance and policies.

Each post holder must be motivated, enthusiastic, have an interest in cricket, have experience of young people with either, a learning disability, a physical disability or a visual impairment.   The appointment will be dependent on an enhanced CRB check being carried out.

Post holders must be able to communicate with, and in front of a group.
It is desirable that the post holders have a basic level of IT skills, have a basic level of independent mobility and are willing to be flexible with any commitments they may already have.

Salary: £4,160

Location: London-wide

Type of contract: 1 year part time fixed contract – 8 hours per week

For further information please contact Andy Dalby-Welsh on 07786 238168 or andydw@cricketforchange.org.uk

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through a CV with a supporting one page document detailing your suitability to the role to Cricket for Change, The Cricket Centre, Plough Lane, Wallington, Surrey SM6 8JQ

Closing date: 09/11/2009      Interview dates: 17th November 2009

Cricket for Change will offer the post holder the opportunity to work in a pioneering, exciting and fast moving charity, that aims to improve the lives of young disadvantaged people in London and Overseas using the vehicle of cricket.   

The post holder will have a responsibility to manage and support three young Peer Leaders who have a disability.   The post holder will work with the three Peer Leaders to increase participation in the Hit The Top programme by introducing cricket to young people with a disability who attend mainstream education. 

The post holder will be expected to assist the three peer leaders to control a small budget, develop a marketing strategy and work alongside a Peer Leader Coach Mentor.  The peer leaders will also be supported by the post holder to feedback at Trustee level on the charities performance and to shape future policy and strategic decisions.

The post holder will need to be enthusiastic, creative, self motivated and have previous experience of working with people with a disability in a sporting environment.     The appointment will be dependent on an enhanced CRB check being carried out.

A good level of IT skills, a flexible working pattern, a grasp of budget management and access to a car and a clean driving licence is desirable for this role.

Salary: £10,400pa

Location: London-wide

Type of contract: 1 year part time fixed contract – possibility of further two years

For further information please contact Andy Dalby-Welsh on 07786 238168 or andydw@cricketforchange.org.uk 

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through a CV with a supporting one page document detailing your suitability to the role to Cricket for Change, The Cricket Centre, Plough Lane, Wallington, Surrey SM6 8JQ

Closing date: 09/11/2009      Interview dates: 17th November 2009

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."

The fine weather contributed to the enjoyment of the day which was attended by Cricket for Change Vice-President and former England Fast Bowler, Devon Malcolm; former England Captain, Mike Gatting and current England Women's cricketer, Ebony Rainford-Brent (a past student of the Cricket for Change programmes).

Vice President, Devon, noted, "It was a great pleasure to have been involved with the official opening of this superb indoor cricket facility. I am sure it will be utilised to the max".

The official opening was performed by Tom Rodwell, Chief Executive of Cricket for Change, John Hooper, Chairman of The Lord's Taverners and David Golton, Chief Executive of The London Marathon Charitable Trust.

The opening was followed by the first official net session which included some young, talented and inspiring cricketers from the Hackney Community College and players from the England and Wales Blind Cricket Team.

Tom Rodwell, said, "The opening of the Indoor School completes the 10 year dream of making Plough Lane into a year round facility. Over that period, Cricket for Change has invested over £1m to transform a once derelict playing field into a state of the art Cricket Centre."

John Hooper CBE, Chairman of The Lord’s Taverners, said: "The Lord’s Taverners believes that sport and recreation are essential for all young people. This new indoor school, for which The Lord’s Taverners provided initial funding, offers excellent facilities for young people of all abilities to enjoy cricket and develop vital physical and social skills. This bold initiative means that many more disadvantaged and differently-abled children will have access to a top-class training facility all the round. The vision of Cricket for Change and its commitment and determination in bringing it to fruition are greatly to be commended."

David Golton, of London Marathon Charitable Trust (LMCT), noted, "The LMCT is delighted to be associated with the new indoor cricket school at Plough Lane. The Trust's work is primarily aimed at encouraging more people in the community, both able bodied and the less able, to take part in active sport and this new facility provides the ideal opportunity to support the valuable work of Cricket for Change."

The opening was followed by a T20 match between a 'Croydon's Finest XI'and a 'NoWon Famous XI'. The match was started with an over from Devon Malcolm and eventually won by 'Croydon's Finest' (Captained by Norman Pearce of Croydon Business Venture). Thanks to Waseem Sherwani for umpiring and Danny Baker for scoring.

A special thank you must go to Viridor, The Lord's Taverners The London Marathon Charitable Trust, The ClothMakers Company and Paul Wickham who all made this fantastic new facility become a reality.

Thank you also to Croydon Economic Development Company, Blue Sky Developments, Natwest, Barclays and Norman Pearce and Karen Day for helping make the day a great success.

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