Charities click for cricket tickets!

This fantastic free give-away has bowled over local community groups and schools to such an extent in previous years that hundreds more tickets are now being available.

During the 2010 Summer festival at Garon Park from Wednesday 4th August - Sunday 8th August, Essex will play Warwickshire in the four day LV County Championship fixture from Wednesday to Saturday, while Sunday's challenge is the Pro40 match against the Northants Steelbacks 

A number of free tickets for each day of the cricket festival will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST) and Southend-on-Sea Borough Council have been working together to ensure local and Essex based community groups can benefit from these free ticket. EASST, a charity supporting sport in Essex and Southend, is granting £12,000 towards the free offer.

In 2009 a wide range of local community groups benefited from the free ticket offer, including:

·         Southend Citizens Advice Bureau

·         Peaceful Place

·         Havens Hospices

·         Interchurch Disabled Club

·         A variety of Schools and Youth Clubs

Councillor Ian Robertson, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism and Regeneration, says: "The Council and EASST are extremely pleased to be able to offer a larger number of free tickets to deserving community groups, schools and charities so that they can enjoy a great day out watching top class cricket live in Southend.

"We urge as many groups to get in touch as soon as possible to take advantage of this free offer as demand is always very high."

Mr Peter Butler, Chairman of the Essex Auto Group Southend Cricket Festival committee, says: "The cricket festival at Garon Park will again be a 'fun for all the family' event featuring the Adventure Island under 11 Kwik cricket tournament, evening 'Concerts in the Park', a Real Ale festival and a car display of current models available from Essex Auto Group showrooms.

"There is always an overwhelming response from community groups, schools and charities who wish to take advantage of the free offer, so it is great that we have been able to provide more tickets this year."

If you belong to a community group, school or charity and you would like to take advantage of the free Essex Auto Group Cricket Festival ticket offer for 2010, please contact Southend-on-Sea Borough Council on 01702-534853 or 01702-215175, or e-mail: southendcricketfestival@southend.gov.uk. 

For more information about this media release please call the press desk on 01702-215000 ext 5505 or e-mail media@southend.gov.uk