Capital Kids Cricket welcomes ICEC report

CKC STATEMENT: ICEC REPORT ON EQUITY IN CRICKET

CAPITAL KIDS CRICKET (CKC) has been fighting against discrimination for the past 34 years. A charity which was set up to overcome societal challenges and empower young people, CKC has responded to findings from the ICEC report that found structural racism, sexism, and elitism in English and Welsh cricket.

CKC will be taking the recommendations in the ICEC into account for both our current and future projects. As championed by the launch of our Bowl Out Racism campaign, we are committed to eradicating all forms of discrimination from our game, and wider society. As we have done since 1989, we will continue to work to ensure that cricket is a game for everyone.

We are proud to deliver projects that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, but we are aware more can be done. We look forward to working with the entire cricket community to support the England and Wales Cricket Board’s delivery of a cricket “reset” going forward.

“Our work in London over the last 34 years has shown us that with the right focus, funding and commitment we can meet the goal of making cricket the most equitable sport. Watched by millions, cricket has the potential to not only encourage sport and fitness but team spirit and a sense of community. We can see that at the grassroots in the programmes we operate successfully in 20 London boroughs,” said Nasser Hussain OBE, President of CKC.

“We are saddened but not surprised by [the] findings from the ICEC. Cricket should be a game for all. The great work from the England men’s and women’s teams to make it an entertaining sport to watch needs to be matched by systemic work from all institutions to truly make it a sport for everyone, regardless of race, gender, or social status,” said Shahidul Alam Ratan, CEO of CKC.

“I am proud to see that Capital Kids Cricket has already been implementing and following all relevant recommendations from the ICEC report, and this gives us further confidence in the work we are delivering. We have fought discrimination for 34 years, organised cricket in hundreds of London’s diverse communities and encouraged boys and girls from all backgrounds to play cricket,” said Haydn Turner, founder trustee of CKC, MCC Member.

●CKC is a youth development charity that improves the social, emotional, and physical development of children, young people, and families across London. We are one of the most diverse cricket organisations in the UK running a wide range of projects across London and the southeast including:

•offering programmes in 113 locations across 20 London boroughs for over 8,000 children per year;
•working with over 2,500 women and girls per year;
•running sports lessons for children in six London hospitals, including Great Ormond Street Hospital School;
•supporting 12 refugee camps in Lebanon, working with displaced boys and girls.

2023 will see the launch of the Clubs in Need Programme providing bespoke support to cricket clubs who are facing various challenges due to a lack of outreach, coaching, volunteers, and parental support.

ABOUT CKC

CKC was set up in 1989 by Haydn Turner and Bill Greaves, two accomplished businessmen, friends and passionate life-long cricket supporters. Both wanted to address the lack of cricket on offer in London and regenerate cricket in schools.

By 1991, CKC had gained momentum and joined forces with other initiatives focused on establishing cricket in schools. These included the London Schools’ Cricket Association (LCCA) and the London Schools Cricket Project (LSCP). In partnership with these initiatives, CKC was operating across 19 London boroughs.

This mission has remained the same since 1989, although the charity has evolved. Alongside its work in schools across London, CKC handles initiatives in hospitals and is now actively involved with refugees here in the UK and in Lebanon. CKC has remained true to its goal and has sought to use cricket to unify people regardless of their differences – both socially and culturally – and bring communities together.

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