The Durham Cricket Foundation has officially opened nominations for its 2026 Grassroots Cricket Awards, seeking to honour the volunteers, coaches, and players who support the sport across County Durham. The announcement, made on May 21, 2026, invites club members and supporters to put forward individuals who have made a significant impact on local cricket.
As the governing body for recreational cricket in the region, the foundation works with 101 local clubs to manage community programmes. These initiatives have seen widespread participation, recording over 7,500 active junior and senior players in 2024. The foundation, which serves as the charity and community arm of Durham Cricket, also focuses on expanding access to the game, with girls’ and women’s cricket fixtures seeing substantial growth in recent seasons.
The awards process recognises contributions across various community roles, reflecting the foundation’s broader goal of supporting grassroots participation. This includes efforts like the Walking Cricket programme, which has helped participants improve physical fitness and strengthen social connections, and mental health initiatives through arts and crafts activities.
Shortlisted nominees can expect to be invited to a presentation event held at the Banks Homes Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street. The foundation, led by Chief Executive Graeme Weeks and a Board of Trustees chaired by Mike Smith, aims to celebrate the dedicated individuals who sustain the local cricket network through these annual honours.
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