Cricket stars from Hampshire Hawks and Southern Vipers helped launch a new community cricket programme in Basingstoke aimed at giving young people new opportunities through cricket.

Chris Wood, Ross Whiteley and Alice Monaghan were at Brighton Hill School this week for the official launch of Basingstoke Hawks Academy, which has been set up following the success of the Hampshire Hawks City Academy programme in Southampton.

Hampshire Hawks and Southern Vipers, who are both based at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, are the country’s leading sides in the Twenty20 format of the game, having both won their respective domestic competitions last season.

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Dozens of young people were given the chance to meet the Hawks and Vipers players at the official academy launch and in an extra surprise, Wood and Whiteley brought the Vitality Blast trophy with them, while Monaghan showcased the Charlotte Edwards Cup.

The Hawks Academy is a pioneering project run by Hampshire Cricket which aims to increase the diversity of young people playing cricket at all levels in Hampshire.

It provides opportunities for young people who would otherwise not have access to top-level coaching and cricket facilities, specifically those living in urban areas where traditionally participation in the sport is low.

In Basingstoke, the new Hawks Academy will complement Hampshire Cricket’s existing Street Cricket programme, which provides free cricket all year round for boys and girls aged nine to 15, with weekly sessions also at Brighton Hill School.

Players who are identified as having extra potential will then be invited to join the Hawks Academy at the same venue, providing them with a genuine pathway to future Hawks, Vipers, and Hampshire Cricket squads.

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Basingstoke Hawks Academy has been part-funded by Persimmon Homes Thames Valley through the housebuilder’s Community Champions scheme, which has now donated more than £1.5m to sporting clubs and charities in the last two years alone.

This week’s launch event included a Twenty20 demonstration exhibition match between players from the Southampton Hawks Academy and Basingstoke’s Street Cricket programme – a squad which included players likely to now benefit from the Basingstoke Hawks Academy.

The Ageas Bowl head of player development, Charlie Freeston, said the event went well expressed excitement at the potential of the Basingstoke Hawks Academy.

“We firmly believe cricket should be a game for everyone, regardless of their socio-economic background, age, gender, race, or ability.

“It is a sport which can bring different communities together, provides obvious health benefits, and helps young people develop important life skills like teamwork, leadership, and resilience.

“Our Southampton Hawks Academy has proved incredibly successful and made a real difference to the lives of hundreds of young people in the city and I have no doubt the Basingstoke Hawks Academy will have a similarly positive impact here in Basingstoke.

“It was brilliant to welcome the Hampshire Hawks and Southern Vipers players to Brighton Hill School and to have both Twenty20 trophies there as well was amazing. I am sure it was a day the young people won’t forget in a hurry.”

Dan Castle, managing director of Persimmon Homes Thames Valley, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to be supporting the Hawks Academy in Basingstoke.

“At Persimmon, we’re committed to building thriving communities that leave a positive lasting legacy.

“The new academy will absolutely deliver on this by providing high-quality coaching to girls and boys who may never have had the opportunity to play cricket, while also helping young people to lead active, healthy lives.”