Last Wednesday morning, the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation (GCF) were invited by Andy Brassington to speak at his Walkers and Talkers event. Walkers and Talkers is a weekly community event, held every Wednesday, where attendees are invited to enjoy complimentary tea and coffee and take part in a walk around the beautiful Seat Unique Stadium, followed by a guest speaker.
We wanted to showcase the wide range of cricket opportunities that the GCF has to offer, with the aim of getting bats and balls into more people’s hands. As part of this, we offered those in attendance the opportunity to step onto the outfield and try Walking Cricket.
What is walking cricket?
Walking Cricket provides a safe, fun, and welcoming activity that is accessible to people of any ability. It promotes positive mental wellbeing, improved physical health, and community cohesion. The game keeps the core elements of cricket, such as batting, bowling, and fielding, but adapts the rules and equipment to suit a wider audience. It uses soft balls and fibreglass bats, which are lighter than their wooden counterparts.
The attendance at the Walking Cricket taster session was nothing short of fantastic. There was a strong level of interest and engagement from those who took part. It was encouraging to see people stepping onto the pitch, some returning to the game and others completely new to the format and giving it a go with enthusiasm and curiosity. The session highlighted just how accessible Walking Cricket can be, offering a safe and sociable way for people to stay active while enjoying the game in a relaxed environment.
Importantly, the session also provided valuable learning for us, with several participants reflecting on how taking part had helped them rediscover confidence, feel more connected, and recognise capabilities they had not thought possible before. This feedback reinforced the importance of opportunities like Walking Cricket in supporting both physical activity and overall wellbeing.
We have walking cricket sessions across Gloucestershire. To find out more information and to discover your nearest hub, please visit our website or get in touch with Josh Graves.
A Chance to Showcase Our Work
After the walking cricket taster session, we had the chance to speak to the 150 attendees. Starting with a brief introduction to the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, we gave the Walkers and Talkers an exclusive view of our strategy video. Following this, we explored our strategy in more detail through a panel discussion featuring Nicky Clarke, whose focus is developing a thriving, sustainable, safe, and inclusive recreational game; Josh Graves, who delivers social impact through the power of cricket; Crispin Shingler, who supports communities through diverse, inclusive, and accessible cricket; and Charlotte Moore, whose role is to accelerate change in women’s and girls’ cricket.
We were also joined by Razi Ahmed, who spoke about the success of Seniors Cricket across Gloucestershire and its role in keeping older players connected to the game. He outlined how Seniors Cricket provides structured, competitive opportunities for those who still want to play traditional cricket and explained what it looks like in practice, including how people can get involved as they continue playing later in life.
When asked about the event, Josh Graves, Community Engagement Officer for the GCF said, “It was a great opportunity to showcase the work we do to create social impact across a wider audience. I would like to say a big thank you to Andy, Steve, and the County Club for welcoming us and providing the opportunity to be involved. The work that Walkers and Talkers do is invaluable in bringing the community together through a shared love of cricket.”
You can learn more about our strategy for the next four years by watching the video below or by visiting the webpage.
