Block T20 Cricket Competition To Offer Scholarships

As part of the newly launched Block T20 Cricket Competition, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment has introduced a set of transformative legacy initiatives aimed at creating long-term impact beyond the boundary lines.

These include a dedicated $2,000 educational scholarship for one player from each parish team, as well as the provision of cricket equipment to support continued training and engagement in the communities.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, explained that these legacy components are designed to reinforce the Ministry’s commitment to holistic youth development. 

“While the tournament provides an immediate platform for engagement and exposure, we are equally focused on what happens after the final match. We want to ensure that this initiative leaves something tangible and lasting in every parish,” he stated.

Each of the 11 participating parish teams will nominate a player to receive the $2,000 scholarship, which can be used to pursue further education or skills training at any accredited institution on the island. According to Minister Griffith, this initiative allows the competition to serve as a springboard not just for athletic development, but for personal and professional advancement.

“It’s about planting a seed – giving one young man from each team the chance to take a meaningful next step in his life, whether it’s through education, vocational training, or entrepreneurship,” he said.

To further support the growth of community-based cricket, the Ministry has committed to distributing a full set of cricket equipment to each participating team in the tournament. This “legacy kit” will include bats, pads, balls, stumps, and other gear, enabling local coaches and youth leaders to sustain cricket activity in their areas beyond the tournament timeframe.

Director of the programme, Courtney Browne, noted that this element of the initiative is critical to the long-term success of the Block T20 project.

“We don’t want this to be a one-off event. By leaving equipment in each parish, we’re empowering communities to continue practising, mentoring, and growing the sport from the grassroots up…. This is also a way of rebuilding the kind of village culture many of us grew up with, where sport was a rallying point for development, discipline, and pride,” Mr. Browne said.

The Block T20 initiative is part of a broader strategy to engage young men across Barbados through sport, life skills development, and community support. Beyond the cricket matches, the programme integrates leadership training, financial literacy, conflict resolution, and other personal development tools to help participants navigate life on and off the field.

Minister Griffith and Mr. Browne stressed that the success of the programme relies not just on government action, but on the involvement of community members, private sector partners, and volunteers.

 “This is a national movement…. We are calling on all of Barbados – families, mentors, coaches, business leaders – to be part of it and help guide our young men towards a brighter future,” Mr. Griffith said. 

The tournament is scheduled to begin on July 16, with the final match set for August 21. (PR/GIS)