Heart Of London Turned Into A Cricket Square

Today, from 1200-1400 a group of children from a Hackney primary school will turn Broadgate’s Finsbury Avenue Square in the heart of the City of London into a cricket playing field, in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2010, Pitch Perfect.  They are joined by former England cricketers Devon Malcolm and Alex Tudor.  The children are from William Patten Primary School in Hackney.

They will play a fast-paced version of cricket which uses a tape ball – a tennis ball wrapped in electric tape – allowing a match to be played anywhere with a flat surface.  Passers-by will be invited to join in the match and will have the opportunity to donate by text message to Pitch Perfect.

The Lord Mayor of London, Nick Anstee, has named The Cricket Foundation’s StreetChance initiative and the London Symphony Orchestra’s Discovery programme as the main beneficiaries of his Appeal in 2010.  Pitch Perfect aims to bring sport and music activities to 75,000 children in two-thirds of London boroughs by 2015.

Pitch Perfect aims to enable the following by 2015:

- 75,000 young people to participate in StreetChance and On Track activities across London, 60% of whom will be from ethnic minority backgrounds

- 950 schools to be actively involved in StreetChance and On Track projects in
two thirds of London boroughs

- 1,250 teachers to be trained, to enable continued activity beyond 2015

The Broadgate cricket match is one of a number of events taking place this year to help raise awareness and funds for Pitch Perfect. Other highlights include a ‘World of Cricket’ dinner at Guildhall with a number of high-profile international cricketers (28 June), a celebrity cricket match at Windsor Castle (4 July), and a ‘Fathers & Daughters’ dinner (6 September).

For a full list of Pitch Perfect events and to find out ways to support the Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2010 please visit www.pitchperfectlondon.org