Kent Cricket Board has joined forces with Kent Cricket Academy as part of NatWest CricketForce, offering cricket clubs across the county a makeover in the lead up to the 2013 season.

Kent Cricket Academy scholars and representatives from Kent Cricket Board swapped cricket bats for shovels and paintbrushes last weekend, helping clubs rejuvenate and prepare for the forthcoming season. Across the UK, a record number of nearly 2,000 clubs took part in the annual three-day initiative, rejuvenating and preparing for the forthcoming season.

ECB Chief Executive David Collier said: “NatWest CricketForce is a fantastic opportunity for all cricket clubs throughout England and Wales to partner with their local community and benefit from the generosity of volunteers and sponsors to enhance cricket’s facilities throughout the club network.

“By signing up to take part in NatWest CricketForce, clubs save thousands of pounds as volunteers and tradesmen give their time for free, alongside exclusive access to £400 worth of free materials in an ECB subsidised initiative with Jewson.”

Over the past couple of years, the England and Wales Cricket Board has encouraged emerging youngsters to increase their integration and support for their local community and Kent Cricket Academy scholars have been keen to get involved.

Past Kent Cricket Academy initiatives have included raising money for Demelza Hospice, and current Academy scholars have been encouraged to give back to their local cricket clubs by volunteering to undertake renovation work in clubhouses and grounds as part of the NatWest CricketForce programme.

Andy Griffiths, KCB Cricket Development Manager commented; “It has been an excellent weekend of volunteering, helping cricket clubs get ready for the new season. I was thrilled to see all ages getting stuck in to help out their local cricket clubs. This is what NatWest CricketForce is all about – improving cricket club facilities with the help of volunteers”.

The figures below sum up the huge number of hours of work undertaken by volunteers within Kent, as part of the NatWest CricketForce initiative last weekend;

• Addington Village CC, 41 volunteers donating a total 246 volunteer hours
• Ashford Town CC, 80 volunteers donating a total 267 volunteer hours
• Bromley Town CC, 50 volunteers donating a total of 268 volunteer hours
• Dartford CC 62 volunteers, donating a total 375 volunteer hours

Total volunteer hours: 1,156

Hours carried out on Saturday 6^th April only, within Kent:

• Addington Village Cricket Club, 41 volunteers donating a total 206 volunteer hours
• Ashford Town Cricket Club, 38 volunteers donating a total 183 volunteer hours
• Bromley Town Cricket Club, 35 volunteers donating a total of 182 volunteer hours
• Dartford Cricket Club, 48 volunteers donating a total 257 volunteer hours

Total volunteer hours: 828