The Disability Cricket Champion Club Programme will support cricket clubs through guidance, resource and equipment, enabling them to welcome individuals with additional needs and varying abilities to support them to play, follow, officiate and volunteer.  Creating a truly equitable club game and providing fantastic new opportunities for cricketers and for the Champion Clubs.

Here in Gloucestershire, we would like every cricket club to actively promote inclusive cricket opportunities for disabled people across the County. We are aware that delivering additional cricket sessions for some clubs may not be possible straightaway, so we have divided our Champion Club offer into two levels. Our hope is that all clubs will become Advocate Disability Cricket Clubs,  leading to Disability Champion Cricket Clubs, which will allow more clubs to engage with the programme by promoting cricketing opportunities for disabled people. It is a fantastic way of raising awareness about how to get involved and ensure that everyone has the chance to enjoy the game we all love.

Active Alliance research shows that people with a disability want to increase activity levels but struggle to find appropriate opportunities. Coaches in clubs are finding it challenging to deliver inclusive sessions, due to low confidence. Added to which the range of players involved in club cricket with additional needs is increasing, as shown by data from national programmes.

Here at Gloucestershire, we would like everyone to be able to access appropriate cricket offers within clubs, or our community offers.