Barbados

Yolanda Alleyne, widow of former ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 CEO Stephen Alleyne, launched the Stephen Alleyne Sport for Life! Centre at the Kensington Oval in Barbados on 1st March 2009.

Located in the 3 W's stand close to the main entrance it provides sport, education and healthy lifestyle training to disadvantaged children who are failing to reach their potential at school and in society. It forms part of the Barbados Legacy Programme of the Cricket World Cup 2007.

The centre has an IT suite equipped with 20 computers and an interactive whiteboard. Children aged 10-16 come to the Centre for a three hour session on Saturday mornings which is split between learning and sports coaching. The learning component includes specially developed curriculum material in key subjects such as English, maths and science, along with healthy lifestyle and leadership modules. Cricket coaching is also provided in association with the Barbados Cricket Association.

Sport for Life! Inc. is a Barbados registered not-for-profit organisation. Funding for the project has come from Cave Shepherd, who have equipped the Centre, and a number of charities in the UK including the Surrey County Cricket Club. Microsoft has provided software free of charge for Sport for Life! across the region and Illuminat is the IT provider in Barbados.

The programme is actively supported by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Commenting on the launch, Yolanda Alleyne said: "Stephen believed passionately that sport - and particularly cricket - could change young people's lives for the better. He saw Sport for Life as a flagship legacy programme for the World Cup. I am delighted that it will now form part of his personal legacy."

Conde Riley, First Vice President of the Barbados Cricket Association said: "Cricket plays a central role in Barbados society. Sport for Life! gives us the opportunity to expand that role and help many children in Barbados who could be making more of their lives. This initiative fits nicely with the Sir Everton Weekes Centre of Excellence which is also located at the Kensington Oval. The Oval is a tremendous facility and Sport for Life! will ensure that it fulfils its purpose as a centre for community activity as well host to world class cricket matches."

Brenda Pope Chair of Sport for Life! Inc and former Cricket World Cup Legacy Manager said: "Stephen was determined that the World Cup should leave a lasting legacy which could benefit everyone in Barbados. Sport for Life! has the potential to fundamentally change the lives of many children both in Bridgetown and across the island for the better. We are immensely grateful to Cave Shepherd, the Surrey County Cricket Club and all our other sponsors for getting us to this point and will now be looking for additional resources both internationally and domestically, to enable the project to develop and expand."