A Girls Only Cricket Camp has proved to be a success after it was supported by three Kent and England Women’s Players –Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway and Susie Rowe.

A total of 48 girls from a range of local cricket clubs and schools attended. This fantastic opportunity inspired 16 new girls through a variety of new skills, competitions and tournaments.

Susie Rowe supports Cricket Foundation both as an Ambassador and Marketing Officer, this enabled BBC Radio Kent’s Ben Croucher to attend the camp on Wednesday 31st October to interview the England Women and Kent Cricket Board with a view to heightening the profile of Women’s and Girl’s Cricket.

Cricket Development Officer Natasha Newman said “I have spent the last 7 months pulling focus into grass roots girl’s cricket, where Lydia has been fantastic in supporting thus far. Throughout the programme and additional Chance to Shine events – 2,252 new girls were introduced to cricket.”

“I feel as a county we have one of the greatest opportunities to enhance the participation and publicity of Women’s and Girl’s Cricket – being lucky enough to have 3 fantastic role models supporting and inspiring young girls. Without a doubt the girls enjoyed themselves immensely and the feedback from parents has been incredible…”

Comments from parents…

‘Thank you for the past two days…Meeting the England players, Charlotte, Lydia and Susie, and being coached and encouraged by them has really inspired my daughter. She came home each night full of enthusiasm and demonstrating new skills and cricketing knowledge. She had a fantastic time and I can tell that she has learnt much in such a short space of time. Thanks to these sessions she fully intends to find a club over the winter and see if cricket is truly for her’

‘Brilliant! What a fantastic event. Extremely well organised and delivered. Thank you for giving us this momentous opportunity’

‘Initially my daughter intended to come away with the family for the week – she enjoyed today so much she is insisting on coming back for all 3 days…’

Additional to the Coaching Camp, Kent Cricket Board ran a Workshop – ‘Coaching Girls’, open to anyone in Kent County, designed for all coaches, teachers, parent’s volunteers to gain or further their cricketing knowledge. Kent Cricket Board District Development Officer and Coach Education Tutor Richard O’Sullivan; delivered the course providing support knowledge for 9 club coaches looking to begin, develop and sustain their girls section.

Southborough CC representative Mandy Pulsford said ‘The course was very useful and has made me aware of the importance of back ground structure to a girls section. It made me realise that it is 4-5 year working programme that needs to be encouraged within our existing club.’