HAMZAH
HUSSAIN
Founder & Director
Leads our strategy, partnerships and long-term vision — bringing development and systems experience from the YCF and an architecture background.
BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORT
Cricket Arena CIC is a not-for-profit social enterprise based at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, working across the city's most diverse neighbourhoods — Burngreave, Firth Park and Darnall.
We've run community sport since 2017 and became a CIC in December 2022. Today we reach more than 200 people every week — from children picking up a bat for the first time to over-50s staying active and connected — through junior cricket, girls' and women's activity, youth activities and local leagues.
Cricket can be expensive and out of reach. We keep ours affordable and open to all — because we're about more than cricket. We're about safe spaces, lasting friendships and real opportunities for people of every age and background.
OUR IMPACT
200+
Weekly Participants
1,000+
Young People Engaged
25+
Projects Completed
10+
Local Partners
what we do
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
2017
Launched the Big Bash Indoor League at YMA and grew it into a fixture on Sheffield's cricket calendar — the spark for everything since.
2021
Led a Sheffield pilot using cricket to tackle health inequalities in underserved neighbourhoods.
2023
Scaled into multi-sport — football, cricket and community projects reaching young people right across Sheffield.
2024
Launched our Youth Sports Club — multi-sport sessions, safe spaces and leadership pathways in north and east Sheffield.
2025
2026
Established over-50s sessions, Women & Girls programmes and the Cricket Arena Academy — reaching more of the community, across every age.
MEET THE TEAM
JOHNNY
YOUNIS
Programme Manager
Develops our programmes and community partnerships, coaches, and leads on safeguarding — bringing experience from 200+ schools and the YCB.
JAWAD
AKHTAR
Head Coach
Leads our coaching and staffing — a sports development graduate, ECB-qualified, and experienced supporting children with additional needs in schools.
what they say
Our vision is a permanent home for community cricket in Sheffield — a year-round space open to all ages and backgrounds, from a child's first game to our over-50s.
GET INVOLVED
Be part of our journey. Whether you’re a player, volunteer or partner – there’s a role for you
JOIN OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY TO STAY UPDATED
.avif)
.avif)