Support Sport
Join us in creating a place where every girl can step up, play hard, and feel like she belongs. Will you help us build it?
Girls’ cricket is exploding in popularity - with cricket being the fastest growing sport for girls in independent schools - but we currently don’t have the facilities to keep up with the trend. We have more girls wanting to play and we need a safe, dedicated space for them to train. Without new cricket nets, we risk girls losing their enthusiasm and missing the chance to become part of an exciting rise in the popularity of women’s cricket.
We’re launching our Bat For St Cats campaign to raise £25,000 to build three modern, secure training nets designed specifically to support the growth of girls’ cricket. One of the nets will be specifically designed for girls who have never played before. With your help, we can give every girl - from beginners to rising stars - the chance to train properly, build confidence, and reach their full potential.
This isn’t just an investment in facilities - it’s an investment in girls’ empowerment, inclusivity, and the future of sport at St Catherine’s.
Why now?
In 2020, there were only 24 professional female cricketers in England and Wales. By 2025, that number had risen to over 150, showing a dramatic expansion of career opportunities for women. The number of women’s and girls’ cricket teams grew by 20% in 2023 alone, with more than 700 new teams formed. The ECB has set a target to triple the number of girls’ teams to 6,000 by 2026, and progress is well underway.
We want to be part of a national ambition to raise the profile of women’s cricket. Our vision is to see players from St Catherines take their place on the cricket pitch, competing with other schools, regionally and nationally.
Currently we do not have accessible, high-quality facilities which limits the potential of those already committed to the sport outside school who might be part of a school team, as well as being a block to new players who are keen to take up the sport.
Our vision
We aim to create a state-of-the-art training environment where girls can:
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Train safely and confidently
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Access regular, dedicated coaching sessions
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Build skills that enable them to compete with other schools and local teams
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Develop lifelong habits of physical activity, teamwork, and leadership
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Feel a strong sense of belonging in the cricket community
The new nets will be a cornerstone for inclusive, sustainable growth in girls’ cricket at St Catherine’s.
You can help us realise our ambition
Funds raised through the campaign will support:
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Construction of three new, high-quality outdoor cricket nets
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Safety non-turf surfacing and protective netting
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Designated beginners net to introduce newcomers to the sport
These facilities will allow us to run
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age-group sessions
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improve coaching quality
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accommodate the rising number of girls wanting to get involved with cricket.
Join us on our cricketing journey!
We invite individuals, families, organisations, and the wider school community to join us in building a bright future for girls in cricket. Your contribution will create opportunities that will last for generations. Together, we can ensure that every girl who wants to play cricket has the space, the support, and the encouragement to succeed.
When you make a gift to Bat For St Cats we will recognise your generous support on our trophy wall in the sports hall. An online totaliser will show our progress with gifts over £150 being recognised as reaching the boundary for 4 fabulous runs; and generous gifts of over £250 taking us over the boundary for a massive 6 runs!
All gifts, of whatever size, are very welcome and will play an important part in creating this wonderful new facility which will be used by girls of all ages.
Scan the QR code opposite or click HERE to make your gift to Bat For St Cats now!
If you would like to talk more about supporting this exciting project, do please get in touch by contacting
Development Director
01483 899787
