Not-for-profit company, Twenty20 Community Cricket, has teamed up with fellow Surrey-based education and training provider SCL to offer a great new cricket-based opportunity for young adults wishing to continue their studies beyond school but who want to combine cricket with qualifications and who want an alternative to sixth form.
Starting from September 2016, The Twenty20 Cricket Academy is two-year full-time education and cricket development programme open to local, talented cricketers aged 16 and 17.
Delivered in partnership with Camberley-based SCL, one of the UK’s leading independent providers of education through sport, The Twenty20 Cricket Academy is designed to develop both the academic and playing talent of students.
The programme will give them the skills and qualifications to further their career in the sport, fitness and leisure industry or to go on to Higher Education.
The two-year education programme, delivered by SCL, will see students aim towards achieving nationally-recognised qualifications either in BTEC Level 3 Sports Diploma or VRQ Level 2 Sports Diploma plus BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Sport or a VRQ Level 3 Diploma in Sport. Students will also gain a sports coaching qualification and, where appropriate, their Maths & English GCSE or Functional Skills.
From a cricket perspective, the programme will offer students the opportunity to enjoy professional coaching by UKCC Level 2 and 3 Coaches, gain work preparation skills and experience, and compete in the Surrey Cricket Indoor League and, throughout the summer, play friendly fixtures.
Speaking about the programme and partnership with SCL, Darren Talbot, Managing Director at Twenty20 Community Cricket said, “This is a very exciting development for our Academy and a great opportunity for us to be involved in further education with SCL. We look forward to developing the young cricketers and guiding them through the cricketing career path.”
Steve Franks, Partnership Director and Co-owner at SCL, said, “Our Academy programme uses the power of cricket to motivate and encourage young people to stay in education while keeping one eye on the dream of progressing through to first team cricket or other relevant opportunities within the sport. We are delighted to be launching the Cricket Academy with Twenty20 Community Cricket and look forward to making it a first class experience for all our learners.”
Career opportunities from the programme include cricketcoaching in the UK & abroad, playing professional and semi-professional cricket, sport and leisure management, and sports development.
Talbot added, “Since we started 10 years ago a career in cricket has become an increasingly respected profession not only on the playing side but also coaching and management with many clubs now employing full-time staff.”
Places to join the Twenty20 Cricket Academy starting in September 2016 are now available by registering online at the SCL website at www.wearescl.co.uk/twenty20-cricket.
For further details about the cricket side of programme, contact Darren Talbot on 07912 873591 or email at darren@twenty20communitycricket.com. For the education part of the course please contact SCL on 0845 644 5747 or at education@wearescl.co.uk
