Tug company Svitzer, which is based in Gravesend has given 15 ECB Cricket Factory sets to Kent Cricket Board to support work promoting cricket across the region.

The specially designed cricket equipment will be used by development officers working with schools and community clubs and by teachers working with children with special needs in the local area.

The cricket equipment which can be used in or out of doors, has been designed to encourage and develop key skills – including batting, bowling, throwing, catching and many other cricket related movements.

Svitzer’s  Kevin Boyd says: “Many of Svitzer Thames & Medway’s crew members come from families which have worked on the tugs for several generations.  As a result, being part of the local community is very important to us.   “We love cricket and help to organise a match between the local river pilots, the port officials and our tug crews every year, it’s very popular and much enjoyed.  This ECB Cricket Factory equipment makes cricket easily accessible to children in schools and anyone trying it out in a local club.  We hope that everyone who tries it has a great time and is tempted to get more involved.”

Clair Gould, Director of Operations for Kent Cricket Board adds:  “This equipment will be very popular, we have recently appointed three new development officers; they are really looking forward to working with Svitzer crew members to see how we can tap their enthusiasm for cricket and excite children in schools and local community clubs.  This equipment is going to open up so many more possibilities!”

Svitzer operates tugs along the entire length of the Thames from Tilbury right up into central London.  The highly trained crews are expert at safely escorting and towing a wider range of ships safely through the Thames Barrier and up the river, everything from Royal Navy aircraft carriers to container ships, car carriers and cruise ships.

The Cricket Factory equipment will be given to the Kent Cricket Board development officers and they will distribute it to schools and community clubs across the area.  As part of the project, the officers will show teachers working with children with special needs, how best to use the equipment and will then work with them to develop the activity over the longer term.