Summer has well and truly arrived at Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation (ACCF), and the 2025 season is in full swing with a vibrant mix of cricket and outdoor adventure. With the backdrop of the historic Arundel Castle and the picturesque cricket ground, the coming months promise to be a celebration of everything the Foundation stands for: inclusion, community, and the power of cricket and the outdoors to inspire and enhance young lives.
The season began with energy and enthusiasm as we welcomed our first groups of young people to take part in a host of cricket, outdoor learning and enrichment experiences. At the heart of our work is a commitment to addressing inequalities in opportunity for young people, creating experiences where every young person can thrive. Whether it’s holding a cricket bat for the first time, paddling on the beach, or staying away from home, these moments leave a lasting impact.
A key milestone this April was the start of our dedicated SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) programme. We’ve been delighted to welcome students from London schools such as Garston Manor, Joseph Clarke and Phoenix School for 3 and 4-day residential visits. For many of these young people, it is their first time staying away from home or engaging in outdoor activities like these. These residentials provide a supportive, enriching environment where participants are free to be themselves, connect with nature and develop vital life skills. From building confidence and resilience to experiencing a sense of independence, parents and teachers alike have shared powerful feedback about the growth in self-esteem, communication and emotional wellbeing that follows these visits.
Closer to home, our Local Programme is supporting young people from across West Sussex through day and multi-day cricket and outdoor learning experiences. Many of the children we work with face social, economic or educational challenges and often have limited access to enrichment or extracurricular opportunities. Through these inclusive programmes, they’re not only discovering the joy of cricket and nature – they are building confidence, forming friendships and learning essential communication and teamwork skills, all while having fun and being active in the great outdoors.
We recently kicked off our Inner London Programme welcoming the first group of 100 boys and girls from Capital Kids Cricket to Arundel for a week-long residential adventure focussed on cricket, outdoor learning and personal growth. This programme is specifically designed to support young people from urban areas by providing access to a green, expansive environment where they can pause, connect and explore new possibilities. By immersing them in nature and physical activity – supported by positive role models – we aim to help these young people become more active, confident and resilient, while fostering a lifelong connection to cricket and the natural environment.
Over the course of the season we expect to welcome more than 1,500 children and young people. Each visit offers a valuable opportunity to build skills and confidence, experience the benefits of nature and physical activity, and make lasting memories in one of the most beautiful and inspiring cricket settings in the country.
With our unique blend of cricket, adventure and personal development, this summer at Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation is shaping up to be one to remember.
