Summer cricket camps look to remove barriers

Hundreds of children across County Durham will once again have the chance to play, learn and make friends through cricket this summer.

Durham Cricket Foundation is teaming up with Karbon Homes for a third year to deliver free holiday cricket camps for five to eleven-year-olds across the region. 

The summer sessions, which include a healthy lunch, aim to remove barriers to sport for families facing rising living costs.

Funded by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Sky Sports, the programme offers 24 All Stars and Dynamos camps throughout the school holidays. 

Typically costing £50 per child, places are fully funded, with extra support from Karbon Homes covering lunch provision.

The camps have already introduced more than 2000 local children to cricket, many from families eligible for free school meals. 

This year’s campaign is expanding into more communities, offering fun, inclusive sessions that build confidence, teach new skills and give children a summer to remember.

Sessions will run across local cricket clubs and schools in late July and August, delivered by Durham Cricket Foundation’s experienced coaching team.

Graeme Weeks, chief executive at Durham Cricket Foundation, said: “We are really grateful to Karbon Homes for their continued support. 

“Thanks to their help, we’re able to provide free lunches, which means we can better support families during the school holidays while giving children the opportunity to get involved. 

“It’s a partnership that’s helping to remove barriers and make sure as many children as possible can take part and have fun.  

“This is just one of the projects Karbon supports and we’re really proud of our long-standing partnership. 

“Their backing over the past three years has helped us support more young people across the county and we’re excited to keep building on this work.” 

Paul Moralee, community investment manager at Karbon Homes, added: “We’re excited to be partnering with Durham Cricket Foundation once again to support this fantastic programme of free cricket and meals for children in our communities. 

“Working with Durham Cricket Foundation and Sky Sports means we can reach a wide range of people with classes taking place at cricket clubs throughout the region. 

“Activities like this and our wider free Holiday Squad events are a great way to keep children active during the summer holidays whilst addressing food insecurity with free healthy meals.”

Spaces are limited and families are encouraged to book early via the Durham Cricket website, here.

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