Free junior cricket urban programmes in Hampshire this year
Hampshire Cricket Board are delivering a wide range of free junior cricket programmes across the county available to all ages throughout 2026.
Its community cricket initiatives are designed to ensure every young person has access to cricket. The programmes offer free, high-quality coaching and the chance to join welcoming communities that help them grow off the field, developing skills for life.
Here are some of the key programmes available in 2026 and all the information you need to get involved.
Wicketz, funded by Lord’s Taverners and delivered in Southampton, offers weekly cricket sessions, events and festivals at various school and community spaces in the area. Having launched in 2018, the programme engaged over 250 young people in 2025. The Wicketz programme hosts a range of events, including Glow in the Dark sessions with bats, balls, wickets and players lit up for players to experience cricket in a unique way.
Hampshire also collaborate with Chance to Shine to deliver the free-to-access Street programme in Portsmouth and Basingstoke, reaching over 250 young people across the areas in 2025. Through free weekly cricket sessions, Street brings a different style of cricket to young people, with fast flowing, energetic cricket games played with a tennis ball. There are seven sessions per week across the county all delivered for free and with kit provided.
In August, attention turns to the annual Hawks Fest, which sees participants from across the urban programmes attend a showpiece festival with multiple tournaments taking place at different age categories. Throughout the day, life-skill workshops and activities are also delivered by the likes of Sport in Mind, Solent Mind, Pompey in the Community and Chase Cricket. Hampshire Men’s and Women’s players are also expected to make an appearance, getting stuck in with the activities and engaging with participants.
There are many more programmes and events planned outside of these urban cricket initiatives. From schools’ competitions to ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 activations there is something for everyone as Hampshire Cricket Board continue their mission to make cricket accessible to everyone.
To find out more about Hampshire Cricket Board’s work in the community and how to sign up, visit: https://www.utilitabowl.com/cricket-board/