1,000 Free Cricket Kits to Open Doors for Young Players Across the UK
By Sports Correspondent
A new initiative is set to bring cricket to thousands of children by providing free equipment to schools and community groups across the UK.
Digital agency Accuracast has partnered with Bat For A Chance to launch “Changing The Batting Order”, a programme that will distribute 1,000 cricket starter kits to underserved communities across England, Wales and Scotland.
The campaign aims to remove one of the biggest barriers to entry in the sport — access to equipment — with the kits expected to benefit more than 20,000 children through 500 schools and 500 community groups.
Using a data-led approach, Accuracast will help identify areas where support is most needed, ensuring resources reach communities with limited access to sport. The programme is also being delivered in partnership with Sported.
While participation initiatives from the England and Wales Cricket Board, including All Stars and Dynamos, have helped grow the game, access remains uneven, particularly in lower-income areas where many children are not part of sports clubs.
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Bat For A Chance, which uses cricket to support education and opportunity worldwide, is now focusing its efforts on increasing access at grassroots level in the UK.
England cricketer Chris Jordan said:
“Cricket gave me everything — discipline, belief, a sense of where I belonged. Growing up, having access to the game wasn’t a given, and I know how much of a difference it makes when a young person gets that chance.
"Through my work with Bat For A Chance I’ve seen first-hand what sport can unlock in kids who just needed someone to open the door. That’s exactly what Changing The Batting Order is doing, and I’m proud to be part of it.”
Fellow England player Maia Bouchier added:
“When I was growing up, women’s cricket was very much an afterthought — the opportunities were limited, and you had to fight for every one of them. The game has changed enormously, but there are still children out there who never get the chance to pick up a bat.
"Changing The Batting Order is about making sure every child — regardless of where they grow up or what their background is — gets that opportunity. That means the world to me.”
Schools in eligible areas can apply for the free kits, with community groups able to access support through Sported as part of the wider rollout.
Apply now at kit.batforachance.org.uk.
