Surrey Cricket Foundation (SCF) has been selected to develop and train Team England to take part in the Street Child Cricket World Cup in India in 2023.
Hosted in partnership with Save the Children India, and taking place before the ICC World Cup, this game-changing event will create a global platform so that street-connected young people’s voices can be heard and their demands realised.
Team England will be one of 22 teams participating, all featuring young people aged 12-14. A cohort of 30-40 Team England participants will take part in a free, immersive programme that will run over several years and will benefit from:
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- Weekly cricket sessions with coaches from SCF;
- Employability and educational support, including coaching sessions and mentoring with SCF staff and partners;
- Work placements from Surrey CCC, larger sponsors and funders; and
- Mock interviews for all participants taking place with staff from Surrey CCC at The Kia Oval where they can learn about interview techniques, timekeeping, preparedness, and research and knowledge acquisition.
The programme will culminate in a trip to India for eight young people who will represent Team England and compete in the Street Child Cricket World Cup 2023. The programme will be sponsored by Ayre Associates Ltd, who will be supporting the programme financially and practically via work placements.
Roger Amos, CEO of Ayer Associates Ltd, says: “We are absolutely delighted and very proud to be the headline sponsor for the Street Child United Programme and working in partnership with Surrey Cricket Foundation for the next three years. As well as providing much-needed financial support, we are looking forward to volunteering at future training and events as well as providing other support, including mentoring and work experience opportunities.”
John Wroe, founder and CEO, Street Child United, adds: “We’re delighted to have Team England in the line-up for India 2023. The final between England and Team India South was so nail-bitingly close at the last Street Child Cricket World and I’m sure there will be a determination and passion from Team England to even the score! More importantly, this Street Child Cricket World Cup is the coming together of all these incredible young people; creating a platform where they can connect and support each other to not only show, but to tell the world with a united voice… they are ALL somebody.”
Jasmin Akter, Street Child United Young Leader, concludes: “Captaining England at the inaugural Street Child World Cup honestly changed my life. It has given me so many opportunities; I was even listed in the BBCs 100 most inspiring women of 2019! Above all it gave me belief; belief in myself that I could be and do whatever I wanted to achieve. I’m now sharing that belief with young girls back in my community and at the refugee camp in Bangladesh where I originally came from, inspiring them to follow their dreams and not let their circumstances stop them.”
