Ebony Rainford-Brent, founder and chair of the ACE Programme, feels more optimistic than ever about English cricket’s understanding of the needs and challenges faced by Britain’s Black communities. This comes a year after the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report highlighted the sport’s structural inequalities.
At the launch of the new strategy, ‘Road to Representation,’ Rainford-Brent spoke about the significant progress in cricket’s approach to race issues. This strategy aims to bring ten cricketers through the ACE Programme into the professional game by 2030.
Here’s what the founder said
The ACE Programme was created in response to a 75 percent decline in Black British professional players. The founder Ebony Rainford-Brent noted that the conversation around race in cricket has changed dramatically since the ACE Programme was established.
Ebony Rainford-Brent highlighted the transformative impact the programme has had over the past four years, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable cricketing environment. She remains hopeful about the future and the continued progress towards better representation in the sport.
“I’ve gone from hopeless five years ago, in terms of people recognising there are issues around inclusivity within the game, and now I’m really hopeful,” Rainford-Brent said.
ACE’s swift impact got commended earlier this year when it was named one of three target charities, alongside Chance to Shine and Lord’s Taverners. These charities will share £14 million of government investment as part of a new initiative to enhance access to cricket in state schools over the next five years.
“I think we’ve recognised the problem and we’re putting in initiatives across the game in response to the ICEC report. But I think it’d be a decade’s worth of real work to say the game has fully changed and opened up.” She added.
“It’s a big ambitious challenge..” says ACE President
Later this summer, ACE will reveal the first recipients of its new Rookie Contracts, offering fully-funded opportunities for one male and one female player to advance their careers at first-class counties.
With 21% of ACE Academy players now entering county pathways, Rainford-Brent is confident that their goal of developing ten professional players by the end of the decade is achievable.”The reality is it’s a big, ambitious challenge, but that’s what we’ve been about with ACE over the past five years,” she said.
“We’re already seeing that one in five of our talented youngsters are making it through to the talent pathway at junior counties, and some of those were hardly engaged with cricket before, or simply didn’t have the support. So if we keep producing at the rate that we are, we believe it’s possible to see that talent come through.” She added.
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