My name is Carol Brown-Leonardi, and I am the founder and chair of the Cambridge Caribbean Cricket Academy (CCCA).
CCCA is created to bring children off the streets and onto the cricket pitch. The CCCA recognises children as the key to the future in cricket and tackles the financial barriers by providing lower-cost access to the game. The aim is to provide coaching sessions, opportunities to learn the game, to play cricket matches and tournaments.
The Academy has partnered with NatWest Bank to teach children to nurture positive relationships with money such as saving and budgeting. The CCCA focuses on girls and boys from the African Caribbean diaspora and children from other ethnic backgrounds to get involved. It celebrates Caribbean cricket culture by providing Caribbean style cricket matches and tournaments.
Furthermore, it provides knowledge on positive sporting role models for the children to aspire to through the introduction of Caribbean Cricket Legends. Ebony Rainford-Brent, John Goddard, Sir Viv Richards, Devon Malcolm, John Maynard and Brian Lara are a few examples of Cricket Icons that are important to the fabric of Caribbean Cricket Heritage.聽
I have always loved cricket; my parents Carlton and Viola Brown were huge cricket fans. Whenever England or the West Indies played cricket, it was a big event in my family home.
Cricket is a game that has dominated my life since childhood, it has a special place in my heart. My proudest moment was when the first members came to CCCA for training, it was magical. Subsequently, I have been more driven and inspired to make cricket more accessible. 聽
Since starting CCCA I have seen so many talented children and I dream big dreams for all of them. My message to women and girls is dream big, in cricket everything is possible. Cricket is life!