Durham Cricket Foundation is removing the cost barrier to summer activities for more than 650 children across the North East, offering free places with free food at cricket camps throughout the school holidays.
The Foundation will run 21 free camps with a capacity of 682 places throughout July and August, giving children aged 5-11 a chance to stay active, make friends and try cricket during the school holidays at no cost to their families.
Places normally cost £50 per child, but thanks to Durham Cricket Foundation and its partners, every place is being offered free of charge alongside a free packed lunch, ensuring money is never the reason a child misses out.
Children will take part in either All Stars Cricket, for those aged 5-8, or Dynamos Cricket, for ages 8-11, with both programmes focused on building confidence, teamwork and fundamental movement skills through engaging cricket-based activities.
All Stars participants will also receive a cricket pack including a backpack, bat, ball and t-shirt, while Dynamos participants receive a personalised t-shirt with their name and number, the standard kit provided to every child registered on the ECB’s entry-level programmes.
The camps will be delivered by Durham Cricket Foundation at local cricket clubs and schools across County Durham, Gateshead, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Stockton and Hartlepool.
Graeme Weeks, Chief Executive (CEO) at Durham Cricket Foundation, said: “School holidays can place additional pressure on families, particularly when it comes to finding affordable activities for children. We’re proud to once again provide hundreds of free places across the region, giving young people the opportunity to be active, try something new and enjoy time with friends during the summer break.
“Cricket is a fantastic vehicle for building confidence, developing social skills and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Through these camps, we want to ensure that every child has the opportunity to experience these benefits, regardless of their circumstances.”
Parents and carers can find their nearest session and register online at https://www.durhamcricket.co.uk/foundation/free-sessions-events/free-cricket-summer-haf-programmes/
Durham Cricket Foundation has introduced more than 2000 children to cricket through its holiday programmes in recent years, many from families eligible for free school meals, with many going on to join local clubs and community sessions.
None of this would happen without the generosity of our supporting organisations, and we’re proud to have Accenture in Newcastle join that group as one of our most recent partners.
The Foundation currently works in over a third of local primary schools, many in communities where more than 40% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, building a lasting pipeline of participation in areas where it’s needed most.