For 155 years, Hornsey Cricket Club has been part of the fabric of North London. The creak of the pavilion on a summer morning, the sound of leather on willow, the handshake after a hard day's play — these traditions matter. But traditions alone don't make a community. Intention does.
In 2026, Hornsey CC took a deliberate step beyond the boundary. The club formally partnered with Togo Union UK — a small, determined charity founded by members of the Togolese community in London — to fund primary education for children in rural Togo. The partnership is called Cricket For Change.
"A cricket club that only plays cricket is leaving its greatest resource untapped: the loyalty, energy, and goodwill of its members."
What Does a Modern Sports Club Owe Its Community?
The question isn't new. Football clubs have community foundations. Rugby clubs run mental health programmes. But cricket, with its deep roots in local identity and its natural gathering rhythm across a long summer, has a particular power — and a particular opportunity.
When a child comes to a cricket ground, they don't just learn to bat. They learn patience, discipline, teamwork, and how to lose gracefully and win with humility. These are life skills. Now imagine extending that philosophy outward: what if the club itself modelled those values at an institutional level?
The Four Pillars of Cricket For Change
Two worlds. One handshake.
Safe Spaces
Sport creates safe spaces. A cricket ground in Crouch End is neutral ground — somewhere people of every ethnicity, faith, age, and background can stand side by side and focus on the game. That neutrality is precious. We want to protect it, build on it, and make it available to more people.
Wellbeing
The mental health case for sport is overwhelming. Time outdoors, physical exercise, social belonging, routine, and purpose — a cricket club provides all of these. Our partnership extends this commitment: just as we look after our players' wellbeing, we invest in the wellbeing of communities in Togo where poverty and lack of education take a heavy toll.
Education
In Togo, 82% of children cannot read by the time they are ten years old. Without literacy, every other opportunity closes. For just £55 a month, a child can be fully educated — books, fees, uniform, everything. Our aim is to raise £110 a month as a club, funding two children's entire schooling. We believe every member donating £1.25 a month can make that happen.
Employment
Education is the gateway to employment. When we fund a child's schooling in Togo today, we are investing in someone who will — in ten or fifteen years — have the qualifications and skills to build a career, support a family, and contribute to their community. The ripple effect of one well-funded education is enormous.
