Jofra Archer joins Bat For a Chance as a Global Ambassador

The World Cup winner has a new role with the UK-based cricket charity on a mission to use cricket as a tool for social change

Established in 2019 by the then 14-year-old Will Gaffney, the charity has since its inception impacted over 20,000 individuals across 65 projects in 21 countries on four continents.

BFAC has grown exponentially over the past five years and, in December 2023 - building on the success of its flagship kit recycling programme - launched the grant-giving arm of the charity: The Cricket For Social Change Fund.

The first CSC project was a joint venture to create a grassroots girls’ cricket infrastructure from scratch in the Caribbean, which also supports girls with their education and runs workshops for parents. Shortly after, BFAC funded a bat refurbishment centre in Sri Lanka, which has taught over 150 children basic carpentry skills and repaired over 200 bats. In February of this year, the charity launched a coaching and personal development programme in South Africa, aimed at tackling unemployment in Cape Town’s townships and impacting 100 participants in its first year.

Commenting on his appointment from India, where he is currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals, Archer said: "I have been hugely impressed by the incredible work of Bat For a Chance and I’m delighted to be joining the charity alongside my best friend, Chris Jordan. The work the team are doing to support the development of girls' cricket in the Caribbean with Hayley Matthews and Roland Butcher is particularly close to my heart and a cause I am thrilled to now be championing.

For me, cricket has always been about opportunity - and that’s exactly what Bat For a Chance is giving to thousands of young people around the world. I’ve seen first-hand how much talent and potential there is, especially back home in the Caribbean, and I’m proud to be part of something that’s working to level the playing field. What Will and the team have built is special, and I’m excited to get stuck in and play a role in helping our work grow even further."

Archer’s colleague, Sri Lankan cricket legend and director of cricket at the Rajasthan Royals, speaking earlier in the year at a Bat For a Chance event, said:"I was introduced to Bat For a Chance in 2021 when they somehow managed to arrange a kit drop in Sri Lanka during the height of the pandemic. What the team have achieved since then is nothing short of extraordinary. The Barbados Royals Girls Cricket Club has been an incredible success story, now seeing over 85 girls as members of the club. It has been a delight to follow the success of this charity over the past four years."

Will Gaffney, now aged 20, founder and CEO of the charity, expressing his delight at Jofra Archer’s involvement, said: "Having Jofra join Bat For a Chance is a huge moment for us. He’s not only a World Cup winner and global cricketing figure, but someone who shares our belief in the power of sport to drive real social change. We’ve grown from a simple idea into a global movement, and Jofra’s involvement marks an exciting new chapter. I’m also incredibly grateful to Chris Jordan for his ongoing support - it means a lot to have such inspiring role models championing our cause."

Bat For a Chance continues to work with local partners, NGOs, governing bodies, and cricketing legends to ensure that the game reaches those who need it most - using cricket not only as a sport, but as a vehicle for education, empowerment, and opportunity.

With Jofra Archer now on board as a Global Ambassador, alongside fellow international stars like Chris Jordan and Hayley Matthews, the charity is poised to expand its impact even further in 2025 and beyond.

For more information about Bat For a Chance, current projects, or how to get involved, visit www.batforachance.org or follow us on social media @batforachance.