On a Friday night at Concord Sports Centre in November 2024, indoor cricket balls were flying around the hall while, on the side-lines, an independent researcher from Rocket Science quietly listened to parents, volunteers and young people talk about what Cricket Arena means to them.

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That visit – along with online interviews and surveys – now forms part of the official evaluation of the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Fund 2024/25, commissioned by the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). Cricket Arena CIC was chosen as one of five case-study programmes in the region. The Rocket Science team continued gathering feedback and analysing monitoring data through to the end of the grant period, before completing the final case study in 2025.

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This article shares the key findings from that independent evaluation of our VRU-funded project, Empowering Youth through Sports and Education. If you’d like to explore the detail, you can read the full independent evaluation report for the South Yorkshire Violence Reduction Fund 2024/25, including the Cricket Arena case study, by clicking here.

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How the evaluation worked

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Rocket Science were commissioned by the VRU to explore how the 2024/25 Violence Reduction Fund is helping to keep young people in South Yorkshire safe. For Cricket Arena, they used a mix of observation, interviews and monitoring data.

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A Rocket Science researcher visited our Friday evening indoor cricket session at Concord Sports Centre on 15 November 2024. During the visit, they observed the warm-ups, matches and coaching, and spoke in person with young people, parents, volunteers and staff.

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Follow‑up interviews were then held online with staff members and external stakeholders, and an online survey was shared with participants. The evaluation team also reviewed our VRU monitoring data for the whole funding period.

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In total, the Cricket Arena case study drew directly on the views of 19 people – including 7 young participants, 4 family members (two of whom also volunteer), 3 volunteers, 2 staff and 1 external stakeholder – plus programme data on all 260 young people engaged.

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Who we reached

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The VRU grant supported Cricket Arena to work with 260 boys and young men during the funding period, all aged between 13 and 25. Most live in under‑served communities in and around Sheffield and face challenges such as economic disadvantage, social isolation and exposure to violence.

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Staff and volunteers told the evaluators that some of the young people had previously been involved in behaviours linked to antisocial behaviour or youth violence. Young people themselves talked honestly about feeling pulled towards “the wrong area” and “messing about with knife crime” before they found Cricket Arena.

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Despite this, Cricket Arena is described in the report as an open, welcoming community. Young people usually arrive via family links, word of mouth and social media – especially TikTok and Instagram – rather than through formal referrals. A growing number are now also being referred by local police constables and other services.

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“Cricket as a shield” – safer evenings, less risk

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Across interviews with young people, parents, volunteers and a local stakeholder, the evaluation finds strong evidence that Cricket Arena reduces the risk of young people being involved in or exposed to violence.

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Evenings that could have been spent on the streets are instead filled with cricket training, youth clubs, gym sessions and weekend hikes. One young person told the researchers that playing for Cricket Arena keeps them out of “the wrong area” and away from “messing about with knife crime”.

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Another described how their ambitions in cricket now shape their decisions:

“It saved me. It’s like a shield for me. It stops me doing something bad because it would affect my cricket career.” – Young person

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Parents, volunteers and an external stakeholder backed this up. One volunteer described the reduced risk of violence as “the main impact” of Cricket Arena, while others spoke about the relief of knowing that young people are in a “good environment” and are “safe because they’re with the Cricket guys”.

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Belonging, friendships and “older brothers”

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The evaluation also highlights the importance of belonging. Young people talked about joining Cricket Arena after moving to Sheffield, feeling lonely, or simply having “nothing to do”.

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One young person said the main aim of Cricket Arena is “to be together”. Others described the atmosphere as “very supportive” and “nurturing”, with sessions that are competitive but friendly. Because young people of different ages train and play together, staff, volunteers and older players become trusted role models.

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“You need an older role model. You can find an older brother here. You can speak to them about your problems. It’s a really good space for everyone.” – Young person

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Friendships now stretch across different parts of the city, and volunteers suggested this may even soften postcode‑based tensions. Families told the evaluators that the sense of community is just as important as the cricket.

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Confidence, wellbeing and future goals

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Parents reported that their sons had “come out of their shell” since joining Cricket Arena – becoming more confident speaking to adults, making new friends and trying new activities. Young people themselves noticed the difference.

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“I’m more confident. It’s a friendly environment where you can make a lot of new friends. It’s helped me build up skills.” – Young person

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Players also spoke about the mental‑health benefits of having regular sport as an outlet, especially around exams and college pressure:

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“We’ve got GCSEs and it gets out the stress. It makes a big difference.” – Young person

“When I finish college in the afternoon, it takes all that pressure and stress and you focus on the cricket.” – Young person

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As they spend more time in the programme, many begin to see cricket and youth work as part of their future. Young people talked about county‑level trials, volunteering, coaching and even helping Cricket Arena grow.

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“I’ve got a team in this league. I want to win. I want to in the future help Cricket Arena expand.” – Young person

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Beyond cricket: careers and next steps

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The evaluation goes beyond sport to look at how the VRU funding has supported education and employment outcomes.

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As part of the project, Cricket Arena connected young people with local employers and mentors. According to the evaluation, this led to young people securing part‑time jobs, starting small businesses, gaining work experience and mentorship, and receiving CV support.

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Young people and partners also praised Cricket Arena’s communication – from active TikTok and Instagram channels to WhatsApp groups where fixtures are shared and older players send “good luck” messages before trials. This positive online presence and word‑of‑mouth reputation were identified as key enablers of impact.

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Challenges and what’s needed next

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The report is honest about the challenges facing community organisations like Cricket Arena. Staff talked about ongoing difficulties funding core costs – particularly venue hire – and finding enough suitable space, with leisure centres often over‑booked.

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To build on what is already working, the evaluation recommends three main things:

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• Continue and expand referrals from services such as the police, youth justice, social prescribers and employability support, building on the early referrals already received. 
• Support from funders to develop a clear Theory of Change and linked impact‑measurement tools, so outcomes can be tracked and evidenced even more clearly. 
• Strategic help to secure sustainable core funding, especially for venues and essential running costs, so that proven impact is not limited by short‑term grants.

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“Nothing to change, everything is perfect”

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Perhaps the strongest endorsement in the whole report comes from a young person who told the evaluators:

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“Nothing to change, everything is perfect.” – Young person

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For Cricket Arena, the independent evaluation is both a celebration and a challenge. It shows that VRU funding has helped create safe, trusted spaces where 260 young men build friendships, confidence and futures away from violence. The next step is making sure that this support is sustainable – so Friday nights at Concord, Firvale and our other venues can keep offering that “shield” for years to come.