Cumbria Cricket Clubs Encouraged To Become Disability Cricket Champion Clubs
Cricket clubs across Cumbria are being encouraged to create more inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities through a national champion club programme.
The Disability Cricket Champion Club initiative is designed to help cricket clubs create dedicated time and space for people with different needs to enjoy the sport. The programme provides clubs with guidance, resources and equipment to support people with additional needs and varying abilities to play, follow, officiate and volunteer within cricket.
The initiative forms part of wider efforts to make recreational cricket more accessible across England and Wales. Clubs taking part are supported to create welcoming environments where people with disabilities can become involved in the game in ways that suit their individual needs, whether through playing, coaching, volunteering or other club activities.
A key part of the programme is the provision of equipment to clubs that are selected as Disability Cricket Champion Clubs. Each participating club receives a free kit bag containing adapted and easy to use equipment intended to help coaches organise drills, games and activities that can involve players with different abilities.
The equipment package includes bats, stumps, plastic balls, tennis balls, larger balls and audible balls containing ball bearings. Clubs also receive batting tees, cones, PVC line markers and ropes, giving coaches a range of equipment that can be used to adapt activities and make sessions more accessible to participants.
Financial support is also available through the programme, with participating clubs able to apply for up to £500 of seed funding during their first year. The funding can be used to support experienced coaching, purchase additional adapted equipment or help promote inclusive cricket sessions within the local community.
The programme also places emphasis on developing sustainable opportunities rather than providing one off activities. A club coach must assist a paid coach as part of the programme, helping clubs build the knowledge and experience needed to continue delivering inclusive cricket opportunities in the longer term.
Support is available beyond the initial equipment and funding, with the national cricket organisation and local County Cricket Boards able to help clubs develop links with schools and service providers. Clubs can also receive assistance with signposting players towards further opportunities and arranging suitable match play.
For clubs considering joining the programme, there are several requirements that need to be met before becoming a Disability Cricket Champion Club. These include being affiliated to the national cricket organisation, having suitable governing documents and public liability insurance, and providing a recent club bank statement as part of the application process.
Participating clubs must also adopt the Safe Hands Policy and confirm that individuals carrying out roles requiring DBS checks have obtained the necessary clearance. Accessible facilities are another important requirement, although support is available to help clubs address accessibility issues where suitable provision is not already in place.
The programme also requires clubs to demonstrate a commitment to providing a fun and welcoming environment for everyone. At least one qualified coach must be available to lead the sessions, ensuring that participants have suitable support and that inclusive cricket activities can be delivered safely and effectively.
There is already a Disability Cricket Champion Club presence in Cumbria, with Barrow Cricket Club listed among the clubs currently involved in the programme. Its inclusion provides an existing local example of how cricket clubs in the county can become part of a wider network focused on disability participation.
The programme is part of a broader expansion of disability cricket, with the national governing body reporting increased support for recreational clubs and a growing number of organisations taking part. Its 2025 equity report said the programme supported 138 clubs in 2024 and was on track to support 158 during 2025.
Inclusive cricket opportunities are also available elsewhere in Cumbria, with activity listings showing disability friendly provision through clubs and programmes in areas including Carlisle and wider parts of the county. These opportunities demonstrate the range of ways people with disabilities and additional needs can become involved in cricket locally.
The national disability cricket pathway is intended to allow people with disabilities to access and develop within the sport according to their needs. With club cricket at its centre, the pathway provides opportunities for participants to engage with recreational cricket while also accessing more specialised disability cricket competitions and programmes.
For cricket clubs in Cumbria considering how they can widen participation, becoming a Disability Cricket Champion Club provides access to equipment, funding and ongoing support while creating additional opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in the sport. The programme is intended to help clubs build inclusive provision that becomes a lasting part of their community cricket offer.
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