Kent Cricket to support The BeYou Project in T20 against Hampshire Hawks
In previous years, Kent Cricket has aligned with the other First-Class Counties to mark Pride nationally, as part of the ECB (England & Wales Cricket Board)’s Rainbow Laces Campaign.
This year, we are marking Pride month with activation at a local level here in Kent and we have built our support into Canterbury Cricket Week. This is the oldest surviving festival of cricket in the world – it’s our 171st – and is our annual celebration of the role of Kent Cricket plays in the City of Canterbury and local communities across Kent.
To kick off this year’s Canterbury Cricket Week, Kent Cricket is supporting The BeYou Project – in association with lthe Club’s Official Charity Partner for 2023, Porchlight – and we will be marking Pride month during our Vitality Blast match against Hampshire Hawks on Friday 9 June.
Kent Spitfires will face Hampshire Hawks in a T20 showdown at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence – under the lights on a Friday night:
Buy tickets now
For LGBTQ+ young people in Kent, it’s not always clear where to turn for guidance.
The BeYou Project provides safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces where 13 to 25-year-olds can meet, socialise and find the support they need. Everyone is welcome whether they’re lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning their sexual or gender identity. It also advises families about how best to support young people (aged 8+) in their lives and works with schools to help them become more inclusive. More information on The BeYou Project is available here.
Sam Timms, a member of The BeYou Project team, said: “We’re delighted that Kent Cricket is helping us to send a message: LGBTQ+ young people are welcome in this sport.
“Many LGBTQ+ young people tell us they feel unable to be their authentic selves when doing sports at school. They feel an expectation to be seen and to act a certain way – for example, being strong and masculine. They are less likely to get involved, their mental health suffers, and they miss out on the mental health benefits that physical activity can provide.
“Having openly LGBTQ+ people and allies at a club of Kent Cricket’s level gives them the green light to begin participating. Some will enjoy this at amateur level, others may even progress to a career. And most importantly, it reminds us all that everyone is equal.”
The Club is also signposting recreational cricket clubs in Kent to Out4Cricket’s series of webinars, running into early June, focused on building LGBTQ+ inclusion in recreational cricket. The webinars will start with a presentation exploring good practices in inclusion, focused on the LGBTQ+ community and more broadly.
For more information and to book your place on any of these webinars, click here. Members, supporters and individuals who are interested in advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in cricket can contact Out4Cricket directly.
At the match itself against Hampshire Hawks, Kent Cricket will be signposting various Pride events taking place across the county this Summer, as well as giving away free Pride-themed FanKlappers to all in attendance.
Spitfires vs. Hawks becomes a T20 this June
Kent Spitfires will face Hampshire Hawks in a T20 showdown at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence – under the lights on a Friday night:
Buy tickets now
We will be supporting The BeYou Project, in association with the Club’s Official Charity Partner, Porchlight, during this match.
