More than 100 cricket kit items donated for state schools in need, and disadvantaged groups and individuals, in the two weeks since launch of the project
A Cricket Gear Reuse (CGR) project at Wandsworth-based Spencer Cricket Club (CC) set up to cut the cost of cricket gear to zero, reduce waste and cut carbon emissions – has been “a great success since launch”, says club managing director Jamie Greig, with more than 100 items donated by players in just two weeks.
The project – “CGR Spencer” – allows donated kit to be picked up for free by those in need and distributed to state schools short of budget.
The brainchild of The Centre for Sustainable Design (CfSD), University for the Creative Arts, Farnham, Surrey, with input by Spencer CC and the backing of Surrey Cricket Foundation, “CGR Spencer has attracted a lot of interest within the club”, says Greig.
“The cost of cricket gear – gloves, caps, bats and thigh and leg pads – can be a real barrier for the young and other disadvantaged groups who want to play the sport but have difficulty or can’t because of the prices involved and rising cost of living.
”We are committed to the reuse and sustainability of cricket gear, to help underrepresented groups – including those who can’t afford new kit – as part of the Spencer ONE initiative.”
Spencer ONE stands for Spencer Outreach, Nurture, Engage, and reflects the club’s desire for greater inclusivity in cricket.
“Donated cricket gear is often of high quality and gives a great, free entry point into the sport for those who see it as unaffordable,” says CfSD Director Martin Charter, who oversaw the launch of similar projects in Surrey at Rowledge CC and Frensham CC in March and April.
“Within the CGR project, more than 240 items of cricket gear have been donated. The emphasis is very much on redistributing kit to state schools and disadvantaged groups and individuals. Further donated items are expected by Spencer CC players as a result of the drop-offs in late April/early May,” Charter adds.
Dates for donation (drop off) and pick ups at Spencer CC:
Drop-off – Finish Youth/Adult Sunday 05/05/2024 09:00 – 17:00
Collection Youth/Adult Friday 17/05/2024 17:00 – 20:00
Collection Youth/Adult Saturday 8/05/2024 0:00 – 12:00
Collection Youth/Adult Sunday 9/05/2024 13:00 – 16:00
Drop-offs (donations) should be made at Spencer CC’s main Clubhouse in Fieldview.
Founded in 1872, Spencer CC is now the largest recreational cricket club in the UK with almost 1650 members playing in more than 70 teams. The clubs says, “We are a unique sporting success. Year on year we manage to combine excellence with community inclusivity. We win trophies every year and we are open to all. Our top adult and junior teams rank with the best and yet those players comprise only a small fraction of our overall membership.”
The club was formed when the local landowner, Earl Spencer, the great great grand uncle of the late Diana Princess of Wales, permitted the founders to drain and enclose part of Wandsworth Common. In 1878, the club moved to the site now bounded by Lyford and Ellerton Roads before residing at its current location in Fieldview in 1903.
Charter comments, “Diverting gear from landfill reduces CO2 emissions by extending the life of the kit. Research by CfSD has indicated that more than 1,624 tonnes of cricket gear could be going to waste each year, even though a lot of the gear may be good quality and have lots of play left in it. A survey also indicates that 52% of people said they had to cut back on buying sports equipment due to the rising cost of living.”
A partner in the project is The Lord’s Taverners Cricket Kit Recycling programme – the largest kit reuse initiative in the UK. The programme provides access to the sport for young people in the UK and abroad who would otherwise not be able to participate due to a lack of the right kit and equipment. The charity provides usable cricket kit to the most needy in projects within the UK and abroad to make the game more accessible to young people facing the challenges of inequality.
The CGR project aims to encourage the development of cricket gear and clothing reuse schemes that cater for different scales and levels of engagement. Included are club, league and area organised schemes. CGR enables the extension of the life of cricket gear and clothing, reduces waste, and financial barriers to accessing equipment, while enabling participation with benefits for mental and physical health.
Spencer CC has already collected more than 100 items of cricket gear. Other pilot projects are being organised with Rowledge and Frensham Cricket Clubs, and, so far, more than 150 items of cricket gear have been donated to be redistributed to schools, disadvantaged groups and individuals.
