In a year of significant growth, the Surrey Cricket Foundation (SCF) delivered recreational and participation cricket to over 46,000 people across Surrey and south London, as the progress of women’s and girls’ cricket in the county continues to lead the way in the UK. The SCF Impact Report, published today, spotlights the strides made by the Foundation in promoting the sport across the Surrey cricketing landscape in 2024.
Following a record-breaking year for All Stars and Dynamos Cricket girls’ programmes in 2023, last year saw a whopping 52% increase in the number of women and girls playing in SCF-supported cricket leagues. There has also been a 9% rise in the total number of women’s teams across Surrey and a 6% uptick in the number of clubs who have introduced a women and girls’ section. The consistent development of the game in Surrey further establishes their position as the leading county for women’s and girls’ cricket.
The Surrey Junior Cricket Championship also continues to reign as the largest junior cricket league in the country, providing brilliant playing opportunities for young cricketers of varying skill levels. The Championship, which offers a pathway from introductory softball cricket for beginners to highly competitive matches for older age groups, saw a steady 3% increase in the number of cricketers and a 10% rise in the number of teams.
Pirbright CC are one of the clubs in Surrey who have seen remarkable progress in recent years. Their community-driven approach has provided an inspirational model for growing the grassroots game. With the help of funding and support from the Foundation and the ECB as well as building a partnership with the local Parish, Pirbright CC have been completely revitalised within a span of five years, expanding from 26 members to nearly 300 today.
12-year-old Jacob’s story is another shining example of how the Foundation’s work in making cricket more accessible is transforming lives. Jacob, who was born with Spina Bifida, has always been passionate about sport, but his mobility challenges made organised cricket seem out of reach. His dream of playing cricket as well as being more involved in the sport, however, became a reality thanks to a chance encounter with former England captain, Andrew Strauss.
Strauss introduced Jacob to the Lord’s Taverners Super 1s Disability Cricket Programme. From his very first session with the Valley End Rascals, who are supported by the Foundation, Jacob found a sense of belonging he hadn’t experienced before. He is now a part of something bigger, surrounded by other young people who share his love for the game!
The report showcases the impact made by the Foundation across three key areas: Keeping the Grassroots Game Growing and Thriving, Making Cricket Inclusive, and Making a Difference in Individual Lives.
Keeping the Grassroots Game Growing and Thriving:
- Exceptional Levels of Participation: Over 46,000 players actively participated in SCF-supported leagues. The level of participation reflects SCF’s successful efforts to make cricket more accessible to individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
- Investing in Youth & the Next Generation:
- SCF’s partnership with Chance to Shine brought cricket coaching to nearly 20,000 children, helping ignite a passion for the sport at a young age.
- Over 4,000 youngsters participated in their All Stars and Dynamos programmes, nurturing the next generation of cricketers.
- Developing Coaching Excellence: SCF trained 433 candidates on coaching courses, ensuring a strong foundation of qualified coaches to support the growth of cricket.
- The Foundation awarded £232,000 in grants, empowering clubs and organisations to enhance their facilities and expand their programmes.
Making Cricket Inclusive
- Championing Inclusivity & Reaching Diverse Communities:
- SCF’s disability cricket programmes provided opportunities for 1,400 children to experience the joy of cricket.
- The Foundation have made measurable progress in increasing engagement and participation for ethnically diverse communities as well as those from lower socio-economic groups.
- Maintaining Leadership in Women’s & Girls’ Cricket: SCF continued to lead the way in growing women’s and girls’ cricket, with 5,414 female players participating in league cricket.
Making a Difference in Individual Lives
- Increasing access to the Kia Oval pitch was a key initiative for the Foundation, with over 1,600 people getting the chance to play on the iconic turf.
- Through programmes such as the Vauxhall Loop, London Loop and Refugee cricket, along with the programmes delivered with Chance to Shine, the SCF supported schoolchildren and young people to form new friendships and participate in a myriad of activities, including cricket, in welcoming social settings.
- SCF also pursued their ‘Being a good Neighbour’ commitment throughout the year by bringing young people into the Kia Oval and helping them develop valuable new life skills through various employability workshops.
“We’ve seen a phenomenal response to our initiatives this year,” said SCF’s Director of Cricket Participation, Chris Coleman. “It’s truly inspiring to see so many people embracing cricket, and we’re particularly delighted with the growth in women’s and girls’ participation. We’ve gone from having a vision to seeing it become a reality. And we have done this by sticking rigidly to our strategic priorities.”
The Foundation’s Chair of Trustees, Carol Potter added, “The impact report clearly demonstrates the positive difference the Surrey Cricket Foundation is making in communities across the county. We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made in 2024, but we have even greater ambition for 2025 to succeed against our three key strategic goals: Keeping the Grassroots Game Growing and Thriving, Making Cricket Inclusive, and Making a Difference in Individual Lives.”
SCF extends a sincere gratitude to their partners at First Sentier, AJ Sports, Coaching Centred Leadership and Ayer Associates as well as other patrons, sponsors, and volunteers for their unwavering support.
