CKC Statement ICEC Report on Equity-in-Cricket
Media Alert: Spokespeople Available To Comment On Equity Cricket Report
Request For Comment: 07748114811 (Ceo) Or 07980837502 (Founder Trustee, Haydn Turner)
Capital Kids Cricket has been fighting against discrimination for the past 34 years. A charity which was set up to overcome societal challenges and empower young people, today responds to findings from the ICEC report that finds structural racism, sexism, and elitism in English and Welsh cricket.
Capital Kids Cricket welcomes the ICEC report published today and will be taking its recommendations 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 20London boroughs.,” says Nasser Hussain OBE, President of CKC.
“We are saddened but not surprised by today’s 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. We saw in our World Cricket Festival attended by 58 Nationalist and 64 language speakers.” says 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.” Says 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.
- We work with over 2,500 women and girls per year.
- Running sports lessons for children in 6 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 our 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 setup 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 including the London Schools’ Cricket Association (LCCA) and the London Schools Cricket Project (LSCP) and in partnership they were operating across 19 London boroughs.
This mission has remained the same since 1989, although the charity has evolved and alongside its work in schools across London, it 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.
