‘HIT THE TOP’ WITH NEW CRICKET SCHEME

~ World’s largest cricket programme for people with a disability launches in London ~

Date 21 April 2008: Cricket for Change is this week launching the world’s largest cricket programme for people with disabilities.

The ‘Hit the Top’ programme, part funded by Sport England, is specifically designed to offer young people with a visual impairment, learning disability or physical disability a platform to participate in cricket at local, regional or even national level.  

The programme will be launched this Thursday, 24 April, at the MCC Indoor School at Lords by England international cricketer, Claire Taylor.

Having identified a lack of structure for young people with a disability to access cricket out of school, Cricket for Change created ‘Hit the Top’ - to replicate the opportunities created for youngsters in mainstream cricket. In addition to this, an education programme for coaches will be run - giving young people with a disability the chance to become sports development professionals in the future.

John Brewer, Chair of the London Sports Board, said: “Sport England is fully committed to tackling the challenges and barriers that disabled people face with regards to taking part in sport. Our £141,000 investment of lottery funding in Cricket for Change's ‘Hit the Top’ programme highlights this commitment. The programme will help provide a great opportunity for disabled sportsmen and women to reach their individual cricketing potential whether it is representing their school, club, county or even country in the next Blind Cricket, Learning Disabilities or Physical Disability World Cups.”  

Phil Tufnell, Cricket for Change President, said: “Cricket for Change has an unparalleled track record in providing unique cricketing opportunities for young people with disabilities and he ‘Hit the Top’ programme demonstrates that cricket is a sport for everyone.  We hope that this programme will increase disabled access to the game to a whole new level.”

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NOTES TO EDITORS:

Cricket for Change is the new name for the LCCA (London Community Cricket Association).

The Cricket for Change Development Team has more than 40 years combined coaching experience in coaching cricketers with a disability. This expertise boasts Andy Dalby-Welsh (opening bowler for the England Blind Cricket Team up to 2007) and Andy Sellins, England Blind Cricket Team Coach for 10 years.  Two of the Cricket for Change team of coaches have recently become qualified to run Community Sports Leader Award courses. In the last 4 years Cricket for Change has also been responsible for setting up cricket programmes for people with a disability in the following countries: Cuba, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Jamaica, Barbados, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

(LCCA) is a registered charity - Reg charity No. 1046047.

•President Phil Tufnell

•Vice President Monty Panesar

Sport England is a non-departmental public body and National Lottery distributor. We are committed to creating a world class community sports development system and increasing participation in sport.

Sport England has been a statutory consultee on planning applications affecting playing fields since August 1996. We object to any application that is detrimental to sport, unless alternative provision of at least equivalent value is found elsewhere.