The Warwickshire Cricket Foundation
Charity 1205429
https://edgbaston.com/foundation/
Overview
Summary
The Warwickshire Cricket Foundation appears to use cricket less as an end in itself than as a practical route into wider civic outcomes: health, skills, inclusion and community cohesion. Its role seems to combine direct community delivery with capacity-building, using a high-profile county-cricket setting to create accessible opportunities across Warwickshire and Birmingham. The available evidence also suggests an organisation in a growth phase, expanding both its programme leadership and its coaching pipeline, though its reach among specific disadvantaged groups remains unclear.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Edgbaston
Confidence: high
Edgbaston Stadium/Indoor Cricket Centre is a repeatedly named delivery venue for Street Cricket, the Ramadan League, education activity and events. This is strong evidence of a principal Birmingham operational base, although it does not establish that the Foundation owns the site.
- Warwickshire Cricket Foundation website — Street Cricket
Lists a current youth Street Cricket session at Edgbaston Indoor Centre in Birmingham, and states that the Ramadan League began at the Edgbaston Indoor Cricket Centre. - Warwickshire Cricket Foundation website — Edgbaston Cricket Education Programme
States that the programme is delivered from Edgbaston Stadium in Birmingham, with training in the Indoor Cricket Centre. - Supplied Charity Commission record
Lists the charity's registered address at Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
Erdington
Confidence: high
The Foundation's current Street Cricket timetable identifies a recurring Erdington hub at Erdington Academy, providing direct evidence of scheduled local delivery rather than only outreach to residents.
- Warwickshire Cricket Foundation website — Street Cricket
Lists an Erdington youth Street Cricket hub at Erdington Academy on Saturdays.
Sparkhill
Confidence: high
The current timetable explicitly identifies a Sparkhill Street Cricket hub, delivered weekly at Moseley School and Sixth Form.
- Warwickshire Cricket Foundation website — Street Cricket
Lists a Sparkhill youth Street Cricket hub at Moseley School and Sixth Form on Sundays.
Small Heath
Confidence: medium
A recurring young-adult Street Cricket session is delivered at Ark Victoria School in Small Heath. The programme is labelled Birmingham Central rather than Small Heath, and the evidence does not set out the relevant ward boundary.
- Warwickshire Cricket Foundation website — Street Cricket
Lists a Friday young-adults Street Cricket hub at Ark Victoria School in Small Heath.
Handsworth
Confidence: medium
The Foundation identifies a current Handsworth ACE community hub at Handsworth Cricket Club and separately describes a participant's progression from the programme. The exact relationship between the venue and the current ward boundary is not set out in the evidence.
- Warwickshire Cricket Foundation website — ACE
Lists a weekly Handsworth ACE Community Hub at Handsworth Cricket Club in Handsworth, Birmingham. - Warwickshire Cricket Foundation website — Foundation News, 4 April 2026
Reports that a participant first attended an ACE Programme session at Handsworth Cricket Club and is now coaching the next generation.
Remaining uncertainties
- The evidence supports a regional operational identity: the Foundation says it delivers programmes across Warwickshire and Birmingham, rather than operating only within Birmingham. It does not provide a complete current ward-by-ward Birmingham delivery map.
- The Foundation states that it works with hundreds of schools across Birmingham, but does not publish a current school list or the wards in which those sessions take place. This supports citywide reach in Birmingham but does not justify adding further wards individually.
- Several listed hubs are hosted in schools, cricket clubs or other community venues. The evidence demonstrates delivery at those venues, not ownership, leasehold control or permanent Foundation staffing at them.
- Some programme labels appear to describe a community or catchment rather than the precise ward containing the venue. For example, the Bordesley Green Street Cricket session is hosted at Edgbaston Indoor Centre, and the Aston session is hosted at Broadway Academy in Perry Barr.
Additional evidence needed
- A current programme delivery register or location-level timetable covering school, community, disability, women and girls, and club activity in Birmingham.
- The full 2024/25 Impact Report or equivalent current monitoring data showing delivery locations and participant reach by Birmingham ward.
- Confirmation from the Foundation of which Edgbaston facilities it directly operates or regularly uses, versus facilities controlled by Warwickshire County Cricket Club or other partners.
- A current list of partnership venues and whether each is an ongoing weekly hub, a seasonal programme location or a one-off event site.
Areas of work
- Amateur Sport
- Education/training
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Provides Advocacy/advice/information
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
Cricket is positioned as civic infrastructure
The Foundation appears to treat cricket, coaching and sporting facilities as tools for improving social conditions, rather than solely increasing participation in the sport.
Why it matters
This distinguishes it from a conventional sports club or participation body. Potential partners in health, education, youth work and inclusion may find a shared purpose even where cricket is not their primary interest.
Show evidence
“Its objects include advancing amateur sport and promoting healthy recreation for people facing disadvantage.”
Source:Charity Commission“Its activities use cricket and sport-related programmes to advance health and wellbeing, education and skills, social inclusion and community cohesion.”
Source:Organisation
The Foundation may bridge community sport and elite cricket
Its connection to Edgbaston and Warwickshire cricket appears to give community programmes access to prominent venues, recognised teams and aspirational experiences that smaller local providers may not offer.
Why it matters
This may be a distinctive source of influence: the Foundation can potentially convert the visibility and assets of professional cricket into community participation, coaching development and local engagement.
Show evidence
“The Mayor of the West Midlands Skills Blast gave children from Warwickshire and Birmingham free coaching on the Edgbaston outfield.”
Source:Organisation“The Bears Roadshow was scheduled at Stratford-upon-Avon Cricket Club for players from across the county.”
Source:Organisation
There are signs of organisational expansion through people development
Recent recruitment for trustees, a community programmes manager and an apprentice coach may indicate that the Foundation is strengthening both governance and delivery capacity while developing future practitioners.
Why it matters
This suggests an organisation whose impact may increasingly depend on its ability to manage funded programmes and build a local coaching workforce, not only run individual events.
Show evidence
“The Foundation advertised for two trustees to support its strategic direction, governance and continued growth.”
Source:Organisation“It advertised roles for a Community Programmes Manager and an Apprentice Community Coach.”
Source:Organisation
- Which communities and neighbourhoods receive the greatest benefit, and which intended groups remain under-represented.
- How much activity is delivered directly versus through schools, clubs, coaches or other partners.
- Whether programmes produce sustained outcomes beyond participation and event attendance.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports, impact data and programme-level beneficiary demographics.
- Details of delivery partners, funding sources, geographic coverage and participant progression.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
Using cricket and sport-related activities and programmes to advance health and wellbeing, education and skills, social inclusion and community cohesion for children, young people and adults living throughout Warwickshire.
Charity objects
THE CHARITY’S OBJECTS ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC WITHIN THE “AREA OF BENEFIT” TO: 3.1.1 ADVANCE AMATEUR SPORT, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE AMATEUR SPORT OF CRICKET BY THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES OR ASSISTANCE IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR PARTICIPATION IN AMATEUR SPORT, RECREATION AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE AMATEUR SPORT OF CRICKET AND IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIAL WELFARE, DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE; 3.1.2 PROMOTE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN HEALTHY RECREATION BY THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR SPORT, IN PARTICULAR BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE AMATEUR SPORT OF CRICKET, RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION, IN PARTICULAR, BUT NOT LIMITED, TO THOSE WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF GENDER, ETHNICITY, YOUTH, AGE, ILL-HEALTH, DISABILITY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR OTHER DISADVANTAGE; AND (“FACILITIES” INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, LAND, BUILDINGS, EQUIPMENT, AND BY ORGANISING SPORTING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING COACHING AND COURSES OF INSTRUCTION); (“AREA OF BENEFIT” SHALL BE BIRMINGHAM, WARWICKSHIRE, AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS).