Photo Credit: Kent Cricket
Kent Cricket has announced a strategic partnership with Platform Cricket for 2024, an organization dedicated to expanding cricket opportunities across inner city London.
This partnership brings cricket to the heart of Lewisham’s communities, supporting the development of cricket in underrepresented areas and giving young players an exposure to the game.
The investment from Kent Cricket into Platform Cricket’s work in Lewisham has resulted in engaging 62 of the 65 local schools and giving more than 3,100 students—including over 35% from disadvantaged backgrounds—a chance to play, learn, and enjoy the game.
The work also saw Kent Cricket sponsor five new urban cricket hubs across the London Borough of Lewisham. The five cricket hubs, located in Sydenham, Brockley, Deptford, Hither Green, and Downham & Bellingham, offer a robust program of cricket activities, including community sessions, holiday camps, and competitions.
Platform Cricket CEO Chris Willets said:
‘For various reasons, cricket in central London experiences very skewed and unrepresentative participation trends without intervention. I am delighted that Kent Cricket have recognised Platform Cricket’s value as this intervention and once fully established, our innovative partnership will provide children from all communities and backgrounds in Kent’s inner-London region with a route into cricket, as well as enhancing the game’s role as tool for personal and social development locally.’
Kent Cricket’s Head of Community Cricket James Reid said:
‘At Kent Cricket our priority is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to develop and learn through cricket, regardless of their background. Working with Platform Cricket in 2024 we have been able to increase the offer of cricket across our most ethnically diverse area of the county, Lewisham. The partnership has enabled more children in SE London to access cricket in a safe and inclusive environment. Platform’s 5 urban cricket hubs were established to give free opportunities for young people to access the sport, delivered by experienced coaches and with links to school and club offers. We look forward to continuing to work with Platform to break down barriers and enable more young people to enjoy cricket.’
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Name of Author: Kent Cricket
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the eighteen first-class county clubs in England and Wales, representing the historic county of Kent. Founded on 6 December 1870 through the merger of two teams, Kent has played top-class cricket since the early 18th century and has competed in the County Championship since its inception in 1890. The club’s limited overs team is known as the Kent Spitfires.
