Ace Programme Hits New Heights as Ambitions Expand Beyond Cricket
Five years into its existence, the Ace programme has made a name for itself in English cricket by catapulting talented youngsters from diverse backgrounds onto the professional circuit. From the debut of 21-year-old Troy Henry to the impressive performances of Davina Perrin and Amy Wheeler, the programme's success is undeniable.
The journey of the Ace programme, founded on Ebony Rainford-Brent's ambitious goal to break down barriers in English cricket, has been nothing short of remarkable. Initially focused on capturing talent from the black community, the programme has since expanded its scope to address a broader range of socio-economic challenges. What began as an innovative initiative to level the playing field for underrepresented groups has now grown into a nationwide movement.
As Rainford-Brent takes on new responsibilities after stepping down as chair, her legacy is clear. The programme's rapid growth – 40,000 kids have benefited from its services in just five years – and remarkable achievements are testaments to her vision and perseverance. With the Ace programme now boasting over 20% white working-class intake, it has shattered expectations by breaking down another entrenched barrier.
However, Rainford-Brent is acutely aware that progress still has a long way to go. "We started with a narrow lens," she acknowledges, "but what we've created is something much broader." As the programme looks to the future, its primary objectives have shifted from simply producing professional cricketers to creating wraparound support systems for players, including employability initiatives.
In this era of cricket reform and debate about equity and access, Rainford-Brent remains committed to pushing for meaningful change. The Independent Commission's 2023 report on the state of English cricket serves as a poignant reminder that progress is often fragile and fleeting. Yet, with her leadership at the forefront of the England and Wales Cricket Board board, she is confident that the programme can continue to make strides.
For Rainford-Brent, the journey so far has been nothing short of transformative. "We've gone from being hopeless to hopeful," she observes wryly, highlighting the need for continued effort and perseverance in driving real change.
Five years into its existence, the Ace programme has made a name for itself in English cricket by catapulting talented youngsters from diverse backgrounds onto the professional circuit. From the debut of 21-year-old Troy Henry to the impressive performances of Davina Perrin and Amy Wheeler, the programme's success is undeniable.
The journey of the Ace programme, founded on Ebony Rainford-Brent's ambitious goal to break down barriers in English cricket, has been nothing short of remarkable. Initially focused on capturing talent from the black community, the programme has since expanded its scope to address a broader range of socio-economic challenges. What began as an innovative initiative to level the playing field for underrepresented groups has now grown into a nationwide movement.
As Rainford-Brent takes on new responsibilities after stepping down as chair, her legacy is clear. The programme's rapid growth – 40,000 kids have benefited from its services in just five years – and remarkable achievements are testaments to her vision and perseverance. With the Ace programme now boasting over 20% white working-class intake, it has shattered expectations by breaking down another entrenched barrier.
However, Rainford-Brent is acutely aware that progress still has a long way to go. "We started with a narrow lens," she acknowledges, "but what we've created is something much broader." As the programme looks to the future, its primary objectives have shifted from simply producing professional cricketers to creating wraparound support systems for players, including employability initiatives.
In this era of cricket reform and debate about equity and access, Rainford-Brent remains committed to pushing for meaningful change. The Independent Commission's 2023 report on the state of English cricket serves as a poignant reminder that progress is often fragile and fleeting. Yet, with her leadership at the forefront of the England and Wales Cricket Board board, she is confident that the programme can continue to make strides.
For Rainford-Brent, the journey so far has been nothing short of transformative. "We've gone from being hopeless to hopeful," she observes wryly, highlighting the need for continued effort and perseverance in driving real change.
. 40k kids benefited already and now they're expanding their scope to tackle socio-economic challenges? That's like trying to find a needle in a haystack while being shot at by a sniper (just kidding, I'm that sniper 
). Ebony Rainford-Brent's got some serious hustle going on, it's inspiring to see her legacy grow into something bigger than just cricket. But for real though, 20% white working-class intake? That's some next level stuff 
. Progress is fragile and fleeting, but if anyone can keep pushing the ball forward, it's RB 
! Five years ago, I remember reading about this initiative that aimed to break barriers in English cricket... it's surreal to see 40k kids have benefited from it already! Ebony Rainford-Brent's vision is truly inspiring 
. But what really gets me is how she acknowledges the program's initial narrow focus and has since expanded its scope to address more socio-economic challenges 
. It just goes to show that progress is never linear, but I'm hyped to see where this journey takes us next 
!
. Its a great move towards creating more opportunities for people from different backgrounds 
. But at the same time, I'm not sure if shattering 20% white working-class intake is really a big deal 
. Isnt it about time we stopped focusing on numbers and started looking at the bigger picture 
? And what's with all this talk of "wraparound support systems" 
? Its just cricket, right? 
I'm loving how it's expanded its reach beyond just black communities, trying to tackle a broader range of socio-economic issues. It's dope that they've gone from 0 to 40k kids benefiting in just five years – that's some serious growth 
. It's all about making progress, but we can't afford to be complacent 
.
, I mean, who wouldn't want to be part of something that's helping create more opportunities for people from all walks of life? The fact that it's now boasting over 20% white working-class intake is a huge deal, and I love how she's acknowledging that progress still has a long way to go 
. Keep pushing forward, Rainford-Brent! 
. Five years ago, this programme was a breath of fresh air, tackling issues like socio-economic barriers and underrepresentation in cricket. Now it just feels like they're trying to tick every diversity box 
. I'd rather they stick to the original plan and let the talent speak for itself 
️
still gotta work on breaking down barriers though, we need more inclusivity in cricket, especially with the new white working-class intake being so high 
also love how they're shifting focus to wraparound support systems now that's a big win 
what she did was genius, breaking down barriers in cricket and now it's all about equity & access. hope it keeps going strong 
20% white working-class intake is huge progress, let's keep celebrating these achievements 
Now they're working on creating wraparound support systems for players, employability initiatives... I'm all for that 
.
. The journey ahead will undoubtedly be challenging, but Rainford-Brent's leadership and commitment to pushing for meaningful change are reassuring signs that real change is possible 
. Guess you could say it's a good thing they've expanded their scope to address broader socio-economic challenges, or else we'd have to ask who's paying for all that? 
. It's been a huge success so far, helping 40,000 kids and now boasting 20% white working-class intake which shows how it's broken down another barrier 
️! But she knows progress is still needed