CEO Update: Community Cricket

We started 2020 with such optimism; for Kent Cricket and our partners, our 150th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service in Canterbury Cathedral was a special occasion for so many reasons and, whilst there were rumblings of Coronavirus at the time, little did we know that we were shortly going to enter a period of lockdown that would turn all of our worlds upside down.

Although the pandemic created enormous challenges, it has also created opportunities and new ways of working. For example, our new online digital streaming service has opened up Kent Cricket to a wider audience whilst we have supported community clubs across county to secure over £1.4m in grant funding as part of their survival plans. More strategically, as we have worked with our stakeholders across Kent to navigate a path through this crisis, it has become clear that our recovery can be best achieved by taking a more holistic view of all our partnerships across the game in Kent.

To harness these opportunities, we created a brand new role; Director of Partnerships. The primary purpose of this new role is to work collaboratively across Community Cricket and the professional game to grow our revenue streams and increase the positive impact we have on communities across Kent.

We are able to do this because Kent Cricket is responsible for cricket at all levels across the county – from the grassroots game played in schools, parks and clubs across the county, to elite Men’s and Women’s cricket played at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence and The County Ground, Beckenham. This gives us a genuine opportunity to bring our partnerships to life across the county network and ensure we deliver first class outcomes and value for our partners.

I am delighted to advise that Andy Griffiths has been appointed the new Director of Partnerships at Kent Cricket. With his background in community cricket across Kent and previous experience in Business Development with Kent-based international businesses, he will be ideally placed to lead conversations and secure funding, which: leverages the 300-strong club network, expands support for our Lord’s Taverners disability programmes, increases our schools coverage and reinforces winning commercial partnerships at all levels between Kent Cricket and our stakeholders.

Andy’s appointment is effective immediately. He will retain overall responsibility for commercial partnerships, Community Cricket and our charitable arm – Kent Cricket Community Trust. James Moss will take up an interim role as Head of Community for three months, with immediate effect until the end of January 2021.

Together, we look forward to Kent Cricket emerging from the current crisis and being in a position to support our partners in the County’s recovery from COVID-19. Kent Cricket has been at the heart of the Kent community for 150 years, and we remain committed to waving the cricketing flag at all levels; making a positive difference to the health, wellbeing and aspirations of our community through the power of cricket.

Simon Storey

Pictured is Andy Griffiths talking to KMTV earlier this year.

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At 11:00 on Wednesday 11th November, Kent Cricket joined up with the 3rd Battalion, Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment to pay respects to those from the Club and beyond that made the ultimate sacrifice.

A short video of the socially distanced Remembrance Service at The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence can be found below.