The MCC Foundation's hub program, which aims to make cricket accessible to cricket ages 11-16 across the UK, is looking for sponsors of 12 of the 17 Yorkshire Youth Hubs.
The new drive was launched at a special dinner held by Michelin-starred chef and former Yorkshire junior cricketer Tommy Banks at his pub, Abbey Inn, Byland, North Yorkshire.
Dr. Sarah Fane OBE, director of the MCC Foundation, said the initiative was implemented in collaboration with the county and aims to strengthen and diversify sports.
She said: “Removing barriers, attracting more young people to the sport and clearing up the path for younger talent will bring great benefits to cricket and the players who discover it.
“The MCCF Hub Program has been carefully developed to incorporate coaching, financial provision to cover kits and travel, and broad support for mental and physical health, social development and personal growth.”
The MCCF hub program is built around key components supporting young cricketers both on and off the field.
These include competitive match opportunities, including 10 weeks of indoor winter coaching offered by ECB level 2 or higher coaches, and the National U16 and U14 Hub competitions that culminated in the finals at Lord's.
The Springboard Program offers training camps for the most promising hub participants with advanced match-play opportunities for players playing against peers across the country.
Currently, the UK has 165 hubs, with separate regulations for boys and girls.
Players are recruited from cricket clubs, state schools and charity programs, and the county is often featured as they move towards teams of the county's age group.
Last year, Hub participants came from more than 1,500 state schools.
In Yorkshire, the MCC Foundation offers free cricket training and match play to over 650 young people, focusing on people from ethnically diverse and unserved backgrounds, including girls.
The area has 17 hubs, with 12 currently seeking sponsorship.
These are the Leeds Boys, Bradford Boys (North), Huddersfield Girls, Middlesbrough Boys and Middlesbrough Girls, Scarborough Boys and Scarborough Girls, Sheffield Boys and Sheffield Girls, Wakefield Boys (partly organized), York Boys and York girls.
Each hub covers coaching, gameplay, happiness support, management costs, and costs £7,000 a year to run.
The event at Abbey Inn was the beginning of a process of protecting sponsors for a minimum of three years of commitment to ensure the sustainability of the initiative across Yorkshire.
The spokesperson added: “Individuals, groups, clubs, schools or corporate sponsors can contribute to the development of young cricketers and be actively involved in their journey.”
Anyone interested in learning more about this program can contact phannthropy@mccfoundation.org.uk
