The ACE Programme was launched by Surrey County Cricket Club in January 2020 in response to the decline of the black British professional players.
It set up as an independent charity in October of the same year later following significant investment of £540,000 from Sport England.
And, in 2022, with added investment the ECB, ACE was launched in key cities across the country, with Nottingham being one of those.
The charity aims to 'Support Diverse Talent from the Grassroots to the Elite' in the following ways:
Talent Pathways: Develop grassroots cricket, talent pathways and talent ID systems in targeted black communities and cities across the UK.
Elite Academy: Provide elite academy programmes and scholarships to talented players to allow them to fulfil their potential. The academy and scholars also will act as an inspirational piece to the community.
Workforce Development: Support the development of quality coaches and volunteers from the community as well as provide mentoring to support players, coaches and families.
Vision: Be a catalyst to accelerate change and strive to become a national charity operating in five key cities with target communities.
ACE will also provide equal opportunity equality for females, and will look to develop key strategic partnerships and capture key insights as the charity grows. ACE appreciates the chance for sport to have a wider impact on the community.
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If you would like to take part or for more information on the ACE Programme in Nottingham, contact Patrick Gada on 07726 675 888 or email patrick.gada@trentbridge.co.uk