How the Spirit Foundation Champions Inclusive Sport through Table Cricket

On Tuesday, 15 April 2025, Newlands Cricket Ground was filled not just with competition and cheer but with the kind of joy that only genuine inclusion can inspire. The Table Cricket Festival brought together seven schools and droves of learners, educators, and parents for a remarkable day of celebration and sport.

For the Spirit Foundation, it reaffirmed something we believe deeply: when we walk the journey with purpose-driven partners, we help build dignity, confidence, and opportunity where it is needed most.

That belief has been at the heart of our relationship with Lord’s Taverners South Africa and Sporting Chance, two organisations that have worked tirelessly to expand the reach and depth of table cricket in the province. Together, we have helped grow the Table Cricket Inter-Schools League into a platform of pride and purpose for learners with disabilities.

The Spirit Foundation’s support of the Table Cricket Festival reflects our ongoing commitment to backing these one-of-a-kind initiatives already making a meaningful difference. We believe in the long view, partnerships that do more than tick boxes, and that every learner deserves the chance to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

“True inclusion is achieved not when children are allowed to participate, but when they belong,” said Dr Armand Bam, Managing Director of the Spirit Foundation. “What we witnessed at Newlands was not just a sporting event but a celebration of belonging. Each learner could be themselves, shine, and leave with fond memories of an impactful day. That’s what our support is about.”

Seven schools participated in the festival, including Vista Nova Primary, St Joseph’s Montana Primary, St Joseph’s Marist (Special Needs), Filia School, Astra School, Eros School, and Jan Kriel School, which participated for the first time. The excitement was tangible from the first fixture. Using specially designed table cricket equipment, learners competed with energy, pride, and heart, with the appropriate roaring cheers from classmates and staff.

“This partnership allows us to extend our reach by supporting programmes that are already changing lives,” said Steve Palframan, Head of the Spirit Foundation Community Programme and a former Protea cricketer. “We’ve seen firsthand the joy this festival brings. For many of these learners, Table Cricket is the only opportunity they have to engage in organised sport—and the pride they take in that is just incredible.”

Natalie Pollock, General Manager at Sporting Chance, reflected on the shared effort behind the festival’s success: “The day was made possible by a collective spirit. The learners, their families, the teachers, and our partner organisations created something powerful. It’s an example of how community sport, when backed with intention, can shift narratives and create real change. None of this would be possible through effective and long-standing partnerships.”

The benefits of participation extend well beyond the playing table. Through sport, learners develop teamwork, confidence, social skills, and, perhaps most importantly, a sense of identity. At the Spirit Foundation, we know that self-worth and visibility are foundational to growth; that’s exactly what this festival gives to learners who are too often excluded.

The partnership with Lord’s Taverners South Africa and Sporting Chance is built on shared values and consistent collaboration. It’s not about swooping in for a photo moment. It’s about showing up, event after event, year after year, to help make the magic happen.

“We don’t just fund programmes and wait for updates,” said Dr Armand. “We walk the journey with our partners. That means supporting logistics, building school relationships, and helping organisations scale what’s already working. It’s about strengthening – not replacing – what communities have built.”

The Spirit Foundation’s support also helps cover the tools that make table cricket accessible: custom-built tables, sliders, and adapted equipment that are often costly and hard to source. By helping remove these barriers, we ensure that more schools can join the league each year, and more children can experience the joy of playing.

“This is more than just a game; it’s a platform for growth,” said Palframan, also the general manager of Lord’s Taverners South Africa. “We are incredibly grateful to the Spirit Foundation for helping us bring this vision to life. Watching learners arrive shy and leave with confidence is something we’ll never take for granted.”

As the Spirit Foundation, we want to help tell these stories, not just in press releases or quarterly reports but through authentic experiences that leave a lasting mark. Whether it’s a first-time wicket, a team chant before the match, or a broad smile at the final medal ceremony, every moment at Newlands reminded us why we do what we do.

As the festival concluded and participants returned to their schools, they carried more than certificates, they carried confidence. For many, it was the beginning of a new chapter, one in which they feel empowered to take up space, raise their voice, and participate fully.

For us at the Spirit Foundation, it was another chapter in our journey of walking with purpose. We are proud to stand alongside Sporting Chance and Lord’s Taverners South Africa, and we thank them, as well as every teacher, volunteer, and supporter, for their dedication to building a more inclusive sporting future.

“We’re committed to supporting programmes that remind us of all that sport is about,” said Dr Armand. “It’s not about who wins or loses, it’s about everyone getting the opportunity to play and experience the highs and lows of team sport.”