ECB Launches "Together Through This Test' Campaign

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched ‘Together Through This Test’, a nationwide campaign shining a light on the work undertaken by the game in response to COVID-19 and highlighting the resources available to the public.

Cricket staff, volunteers and players across the country – from both the professional and the recreational game - have taken part in over 200 initiatives during lockdown. Projects include long-distance charity runs, delivering food to the vulnerable and a dedicated phone support service for those left isolated by coronavirus.

A film, narrated by cricket fan Stephen Fry, captures the spirit of the cricket community and celebrates the way in which society has come together during this difficult period.

The ECB has set up a COVID-19 resource hub on ecb.co.uk/covid-19 to offer assistance, focussing on:

• Providing physical and mental health support to the general public, with NHS information, a Vitality ‘Fit 4 Cricket’ series and a Lord’s Taverners online hub for cricket-based activities

• Delivering fun and educational interactive resources for children in partnership with Chance to Shine

• Supporting the recreational game by providing emergency funds and resources

The key initiatives to date include:

• Running 21 programmes providing food to NHS staff, the vulnerable and the homeless

• Supporting the isolated and vulnerable with #MakeThatCall where players, coaches, staff and former players ring older members and stewards from their club

• Cricket clubs being used for COVID-19 testing and blood donations

• Three England Women’s players have offered their services to the NHS – Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley

• We have produced social media content, including content of our players, to keep families entertained and active during lockdown with over 90 million video views to date

• The Lord’s Taverners creating a free online hub to support disadvantaged and disabled young people with physical activity and mental wellbeing during lockdown

• Running 49 fundraising initiatives. These range from England’s Physical Disability men’s team collectively running a marathon a day for ten days, in aid of the Lord’s Taverners, to a 5-year-old cricket fan from Cheshire doing the 1,000 Bat Challenge for the NHS after hospital staff saved his life

• Launching three financial schemes to provide immediate support for our national network of cricket clubs and leagues and a financial toolkit created by NatWest

From May 20, 5 to 11-year-old children and their parents can access eight weeks’ worth of curriculum-based educational resources covering topics from maths and english to art & PE, delivered in partnership with Chance to Shine.

This hub is not only a resource to help people during lockdown but will also provide information and support to the cricket community when cricket is phased back into society. The ECB and wider cricket network will be launching and supporting further initiatives in the coming weeks.