Chris Jordan backs campaign giving free cricket kits to West Midlands schools

Schools across the West Midlands are among those that could benefit from Changing The Batting Order, a new Bat For A Chance initiative delivered with digital partner Accuracast, which will provide 1,000 free cricket starter kits to underserved schools and community groups across England, Wales and Scotland.

The programme aims to support more than 20,000 children through 500 primary and secondary schools and 500 community groups. Accuracast will use publicly available government data to identify and target the most deprived areas across England, Wales and Scotland, helping Bat For A Chance ensure kits reach the schools and communities that need them most. Alongside community partners Sported, the programme aims to provide kit to children and young people in places where access to the game is often most limited.

ECB initiatives like All Stars and Dynamos have done a fantastic job at boosting participation, and The Hundred has doubled female participation since its launch in 2021. Yet too many children are still falling through the gaps. Children in deprived communities and urban areas continue to face barriers to the game, and one in three children from low-income families lack access to any sports club.*

For England cricketer and BFAC Global Ambassador Chris Jordan, that access is personal: “Cricket gave me everything — discipline, belief, a sense of where I belonged. Growing up, having access to the game wasn’t a given, and I know how much of a difference it makes when a young person gets that chance. Through my work with Bat For A Chance I’ve seen first-hand what sport can unlock in kids who just needed someone to open the door. That’s exactly what Changing The Batting Order is doing, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Maia Bouchier, England cricketer and BFAC Global Ambassador, knows that barrier all too well: “When I was growing up, women’s cricket was very much an afterthought — the opportunities were limited, and you had to fight for every one of them. The game has changed enormously, but there are still children out there who never get the chance to pick up a bat. Changing The Batting Order is about making sure every child — regardless of where they grow up or what their background is — gets that opportunity. That means the world to me.”

Primary schools in deprived areas across England can apply for a free cricket starter kit through the dedicated portal at kit.batforachance.org.uk.

Kits are free of charge and will be allocated to schools in the most underserved communities.

Community groups wishing to apply should contact Sported directly, which is managing kit distribution to community organisations as part of this initiative.