- Toyota GB to grow participation of grassroots cricket through bursaries, local engagement and fundraising
- Toyota will become the first official partner of ECB’s All Stars Cricket programme and will invest £800,000 over the next four years, to fund 4,000 additional bursaries each year
- Toyota is also announced as the title partner of ECB’s Get Set Weekend
Toyota is the first official partner of All Stars Cricket – an eight-week programme curated by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) designed to introduce 5-8-year-old children to the sport. This partnership will see Toyota fund thousands of free bursary places each year through a financial investment of £800,000 over the next four years.
As a result, 4,000 children will be able to gain free access to the programme this year alone, taking the total of free places available this year to 10,000.
This comes as Toyota announces its long-term commitment to supporting grassroots cricket, in collaboration with the ECB.
In addition to the bursaries, Toyota’s dealerships will also play a supporting role in growing All Stars Cricket among local communities. For example, centre sign-ups will introduce more volunteers and host clubs to the programme.
Toyota branding will also be present across All Stars marketing and promotional materials, including on t-shirts that will be distributed to children participating in the programme.
Furthermore, Toyota is now the title partner of the ECB’s Get Set Weekend. Taking place on 5 and 6 April, Get Set Weekend has, for many years, been a pre-season focal point for clubs up and down the country to ready themselves for a successful season ahead. Aimed at readying facilities and inspiring new and existing volunteers to spend time at their local club and ‘get set’ for the upcoming season, the initiative invites cricket clubs nationwide to participate in the preparation of the grassroots season.
Thirty-three thousand [33,000] participants, spanning 1,600 cricket clubs, have signed up to this year’s Get Set Weekend. Toyota and the ECB’s ambition is to grow the number of clubs to 2,500 by 2029. Commencing during Get Set Weekend this year, Toyota’s network of local dealerships will support their community clubs with a Get Set pack of essential items, through vehicle provision and by providing volunteer support.
Scott Thompson, President and Managing Director of Toyota GB commented: "We’re proud to support ECB’s All Stars Cricket programme and Get Set Weekend, inspiring the next generation of cricketers and supporting the volunteers that make club cricket possible. At Toyota, mobility is at the heart of everything we do and, through these initiatives, we’re helping more people enjoy cricket, be active and connect through sport.”
Alex Perkins, Commercial Director at ECB said: “We are delighted to partner with Toyota as we launch Get Set Weekend and All Stars Cricket this year. Grassroots cricket is the bedrock of the sport and stretches into every corner of in England and Wales. Toyota’s support for these fantastic initiatives will bring even more communities together around cricket, and provide even more opportunities for children to develop a life-long love of the game.”
For more information on All Stars Cricket and Get Set Weekend, visit toyota.co.uk/cricket to find out what’s taking place in your local area.