IMPACT REPORT

In 2023, with equity in cricket a key point of discussion, it was the ideal time for us to become an ECB Core City, enabling us to work intensively on broadening our reach in our communities. Since then we have forged more than 50 partnerships with community organisations and faith groups across Nottingham, setting up four community hubs where we host cricket and non- cricket activities. We have also welcomed partners through our gates to host events such as an Iftar solidarity fast during the holy month of Ramadan, delivered with Himmah food bank – who help to tackle food poverty in Nottingham. We marked Eid, mean- while, with the staging of prayers on the outfield for the first time. In July, coinciding with the Trent Bridge Test between England and West Indies, we worked with the Windrush Cricket Project to capture the oral stories of local Windrush cricketers. The project recognises the role which the sport played in helping their generation’s families to settle in the city. ACE cricket sessions have been delivered in 12 schools across Nottingham this year, also forming links with two community youth clubs to allow those from deprived areas and non-cricketing back- grounds to experience the game. In total, ACE engaged with more than 900 young people in 2024. We have also been proud to strengthen our relationship with the Nottinghamshire LGBTQ+ cricket supporters’ group, The OUTlaws. In July this year, the playing staff of both Nottinghamshire and The Blaze took part in the Rainbow Laces campaign. Ahead of their Vitality Blast fixture against Birmingham Bears at Trent Bridge, members of the Outlaws squad donned rainbow t-shirts in their warm-up as the ground was splashed in a rainbow of colours in allyship. We were delighted to see 20 SEND [Special Educational Needs and Disabilities] schools engaged in table cricket and softball cricket this year, with 30 young leaders trained to support table cricket festivals. In 2024, 68 young people attended our four Super1s hubs, where 17 life skills workshops were delivered to help young people with special educational needs or disabilities become equipped with practical skills. The Wicketz programme, which provides an accessible cricket offering and mentoring for children from disadvantaged communities, engaged 78 young people across four hubs, including a brand-new hub launched in Clifton. Young people were also given the chance to experience competitive cricket at Wicketz festivals, of which we held six in 2024, in addition to an East Midlands regional festival at West Park. 16 COMMUNITY Linking our communities and partners together to make cricket more visible and accessible to all.