History
A Charitable Trust formed as the Middlesex County Cricket Club Centenary Youth Trust on 1 October 1964 to mark the centenary of the County Club, and set up to further cricket in Middlesex by encouraging and facilitating the playing of cricket at clubs, schools and universities.
The name was initially shortened to the Centenary Youth Trust (CYT) but has been updated to link more closely to the other cricketing organisations in the County and is now known as the Middlesex Cricket Trust (MCT).
The Trust's funds have come mainly from a legacy from Gubby Allen and other generous donors, supplemented by fundraising activities.
Initially the Trust employed coaches to visit junior schools to introduce the pupils to cricket and to train the staff to continue with their cricket development. This work has now been taken over and expanded by the Middlesex Cricket Board, although the Trust continues to contribute to the costs.
The Trust has also helped clubs with grants towards the cost of non-turf pitches, net facilities and other cricketing equipment, together with support to the Middlesex Colts Association and the provision of funds for colts’ festivals.
In 1999 the Trustees gave almost 400 helmets to the colts sections of clubs in the County, in order to ensure that the very young colts could be attracted to the game and to enable them to continue to play it.
Since the inception of the Trust it is estimated that about £750,000 has been provided for the development of cricket and cricket facilities.
In recent years, the Trustees have been considering how the Trust can become of even greater value to the promotion of cricket in Middlesex. The growth of development activity now managed by the Middlesex Cricket Board – through clubs and schools – has been accompanied by a need to attract funding so that this excellent work can be maintained. As the only registered charity dedicated to cricket in Middlesex, the Trust is perfectly placed to help the County Club and the Board, both as a supporter of activities and as a recipient for charitable funds.
The Trustees have also recognised that the promotion of cricket around the county will not only help to produce the next generation of cricketers and cricket lovers, but that the game can be also be used as a tool for broader social development. Consequently they decided that 2011 would be a year of positive changes and increased activity.
These ambitious plans will mean that fundraising activities will have to increase so that the additional funds needed to match our ambitions will be forthcoming.
We welcome any ideas or suggestions that you may have on further ways in which we can help support cricket in Middlesex and also how we may raise the funds to achieve this.
We are of course always particularly appreciative of gifts and legacies, especially when supported by Gift Aid.
Contact us
Contact details for the MCT for further information or to make a donation.