On Wednesday 9th July 2025, The Kia Oval successfully hosted its annual Disability Day, an event that truly celebrates inclusive sport and underscores cricket’s power for everyone.
Around 600 children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) from across Surrey and south London joined us, creating a vibrant atmosphere throughout our iconic ground. A key aim of the day was to signpost all participants to opportunities where they could continue enjoying any sports they tried, fostering ongoing engagement beyond the event itself.
The day featured a fantastic mix of adapted sports, with cricket, of course, at its heart. Participants got involved in Wheelchair Cricket, Visually Impaired Cricket, Table Cricket, and Softball Cricket. Our dedicated coaches and volunteers were on hand, guiding everyone through batting, bowling, and fielding challenges, and it was brilliant to see skills developing throughout the day.
Beyond the cricket wicket, Disability Day truly embraced its inclusive spirit by offering a diverse range of activities, thanks to invaluable partnerships. Youngsters explored balance and flexibility with inclusive yoga and dance from Synergy Dance, showcased their precision in Accessible Archery with Surrey Archery, and honed strategic thinking in Boccia, expertly supported by Boccia England. Fulham FC Foundation brought their popular football skills sessions, and the Harlequins Foundation added a taste of rugby activities, ensuring there was something fun for absolutely everyone.
Attendees also enjoyed a variety of other attractions, including animal encounters from Vauxhall City Farm, inflatable games, face painting, and playful interactions with Surrey’s beloved mascots, Caesar and Cleo the Lions, all of which brought many smiles.
Caroline Robinson, Disability Development Officer at the Surrey Cricket Foundation, said “Disability Day is truly one of the highlights of our year. To witness so many young people engaging with sport, developing new skills, and experiencing the pure enjoyment of being active in an inclusive environment at The Kia Oval is incredibly rewarding. Crucially, we also want to ensure that the excitement doesn’t end here. We’re dedicated to connecting participants with local clubs and programmes so they can continue to thrive in the sports they discover today. It underscores our belief that cricket, and indeed all sport, should be accessible to everyone, not just for a day, but for life.”
This year’s event was made extra special by the incredible support from First Sentier Investors, our main sponsors for Disability Cricket in Surrey. Around 60 dedicated volunteers from their team helped make everything run smoothly. This year also marks a fantastic 10 years of their sponsorship, and their unwavering commitment has been vital in making events like Disability Day such a huge success, year after year. We’re incredibly grateful for their decade of invaluable partnership!
Adding to the day’s wonderful community spirit, A-level students from the Surrey Academic Cricket Scholarship (SACS) Programme at Harris Academy also volunteered their time. As part of their Careers in Cricket work experience week, these aspiring young leaders helped with various activities, gaining fantastic experience and contributing immensely to the day.
Our annual Disability Day is a cornerstone of the Surrey Cricket Foundation’s commitment to making cricket accessible to all. It’s not just a brilliant day out for hundreds of young people; it also highlights the ongoing impact of our extensive disability cricket programmes, including our Lord’s Taverners Super 1s hubs and vital school coaching initiatives, and our dedication to facilitating continued participation.
A massive thank you from the Surrey Cricket Foundation to all the participants, schools, partners, and especially our dedicated volunteers and sponsors, First Sentier Investors, for making the 2025 Disability Day an unforgettable celebration of sport, inclusion, and community. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year!
