England And Wales Cricket Trust Invests £52 Million

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that The England and Wales Cricket Trust has invested in grassroots projects with capital costs totalling over £52,000,000 in the last financial year.

The Trust along with Sport England has directly invested over £11,600,000 and attracted partnership funding of over £40,000,000 to 699 projects in 2011.

Despite the challenging economic climate the Trust is maintaining its investment levels and growing in terms of the levels of partnership funding it attracts to its programmes.

The England and Wales Cricket Trust is also responsible for investing revenue funding totalling £5,916,000 (2011) into grassroots cricket, through the work of 39 County Cricket Boards.

Over the last 12 months the Trust has made investments in all priority areas of development including women and girls, disabilities projects and projects that encouraged growth in adult participation.

The Trust also donates to Chance to Shine - who saw the millionth child participate in their programme last year - and to the Lords Taverners who continue to support community cricket and the disadvantaged through schools and clubs, funding the purchase of non-turf practice facilities and equipment bags.

The Trust holds a unique position in acting as an investor in the whole structure of the game at the grass roots level.

ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: “We are delighted with the continued investment the England and Wales Trust has made across the grassroots game.

Assisting communities to maintain and develop their people and cricket facilities is key to sustaining and increasing participation across England and Wales.

We are grateful for the continued investment from all our partners including Sport England as they contribute hugely to projects across England and within the National Governing Body.”