At Devon Cricket Foundation, our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) continues to shape how we grow the game and support our communities. 2025 has been a year of meaningful progress, with impactful programmes and inspiring stories across the county.
Review of 2025
One of the standout successes has been our Super 1s programme, which continues to provide inclusive cricket opportunities for young people with disabilities. A particular highlight has been the journey of young player Auction, whose development and enthusiasm perfectly capture the spirit and purpose of the programme.
Disability cricket more broadly has taken an important step forward, with the Devon Disability team returning to competitive action and playing their first match for some time. This milestone represents not just participation, but renewed momentum and visibility for disability cricket across the county.
The women and girls’ game has seen exceptional growth at both club and school levels. Increased participation, new teams, and stronger pathways are evidence of a game that is becoming more accessible and inclusive. Initiatives such as the Devon Women’s Her Game Too fixture have further reinforced our commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all women and girls in cricket.
In table cricket, Devon has enjoyed national success, culminating in the achievement of a national finalist. This reflects the strength of our inclusive programmes and the dedication of players, coaches and volunteers.
A significant amount of work has also taken place within state schools, particularly primary schools with high levels of free school meal eligibility. By prioritising these settings, we are helping to remove barriers to participation and ensuring cricket reaches those who may otherwise not have access to the game.
Across our club network, the launch of walking cricket has opened up new opportunities for older adults and those looking for a more accessible format of the game. Early uptake has been encouraging and highlights the demand for inclusive, lifelong participation.
Internally, we have invested heavily in people. Over the past 12 months, staff have undertaken extensive training in anti-discrimination, understanding conscious and unconscious bias, and the use of appropriate and inclusive language. This ensures that our workforce is better equipped to lead and support inclusive practice across Devon.
Looking Ahead to 2026
While 2025 has seen strong progress, we recognise that some ambitions were not fully achieved. These priorities have been carried forward and strengthened within our 2026 EDI action plan.
We will focus on increasing the diversity of our Board of Trustees, including the recruitment of at least one trustee with a specific EDI focus. Strong governance is essential to embedding inclusion at every level of the organisation.
A key priority is the establishment of a player support fund to assist individuals within our performance pathway, ensuring that financial barriers do not limit opportunity or progression.
We will also place a major emphasis on expanding Super 1s, increasing participation numbers and broadening access across the county so that more young people can benefit from the programme.
In disability cricket, we aim to introduce a more formal and consistent county-wide programme, building on the progress made in 2025 and creating regular, structured opportunities for players.
The growth of the women and girls’ game will remain a central priority, with continued investment in school and club pathways to sustain and accelerate participation.
Alongside all of this, we will be working towards attaining ECB Gold Standard Governance. Achieving this standard will strengthen our ability to grow inclusive programmes and secure future opportunities by providing confidence and reassurance to external partners and stakeholders looking to work alongside us.
Finally, we will deliver a significant expansion of walking cricket, formalising provision and increasing the number of opportunities available across Devon to ensure the game truly is accessible for all ages and abilities.
Conclusion
Our EDI journey is ongoing. The progress made in 2025 demonstrates what can be achieved through focus, collaboration and commitment. As we move into 2026, we remain dedicated to creating a game that is inclusive, representative and accessible for everyone in Devon.
