Cricket-loving teenager Will Gaffney’s excellent supply is placing smiles on the faces of deprived youngsters. The pupil entrepreneur’s early fascination with the game has now become a driving ardour to assist others.

Will, 18, arrange Bat For A Chance from his bed room 4 years in the past having give you the thought when he was simply 11.

He wished to assist underprivileged children around the globe expertise the enjoyment of the game after a cricket tour to Sri Lanka.

Will’s plan has since snowballed and his charity can now depend on the help of a number of the greatest hitters within the recreation.

He stated: “I have been fortunate enough to play cricket in fantastic locations but doing this opened my eyes to how fortunate I am and how poor others’ equipment is at times.

“I also saw how much these children relied on the sport and how much it did for them.”

Bat For A Chance, which A-level ­pupil Will runs along with his mum Nicky, operates in a number of the world’s poorest and most-deprived international locations.

It has donated softball kits to refugees within the Lebanon, kitted out the Sierra Leone nationwide staff and helped a UK-based Afghan refugee by offering him along with his first set of hardball pads.

The charity has come to assistance from tens of 1000's of youngsters in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and South Africa, offering faculties, golf equipment and academies with clothes, package and a love of the sport.

To date greater than 2,000 gadgets – together with bats, balls, pads and clothes – have been despatched abroad. And the charity has been capable of assist present entry to cricket to fifteen,000 youngsters throughout 4 continents.

It has the backing of England’s World Cup-winning quick bowler Chris Jordan, ­former Ashes winner and Sky Sports commentator Lydia Greenway, former South African Test captain Gary Kirsten and Sri Lankan legend Kumara Sangakkara.

Will just lately partnered with Kirsten’s charity The Catch Trust within the township of Khayelitsha, Western Cape.

The Springbok legend, 55, stated: “Will’s charity is incredible. They send us bags of equipment in very good condition in differing sizes, for kids from eight to 18. They are amazing.”

While tempo ace Jordan, 34, added: “What Will has done in his life to date never fails to impress me. It’s been a real honour to be part of Bat For A Chance’s ambitions.

Supporters also include Sussex County Cricket Club, Kent County Cricket Club, and the MCC Foundation.

Entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson – who, like Will, is dyslexic – was so impressed with the teenager’s mission that he has laid on his cargo airline to fly equipment across the world for free and described the initiative as “just lovely”.

The teenager studied at The King’s School in Canterbury which counts former England cricket captain David Gower amongst its alumni.

Will, of Stonegate, East Sussex, stated: “We collect and source cricket clothing and equipment, both new and high-quality ­second hand.”

Will’s first cargo was to the Foundation of Goodness charity in Sri Lanka. Bat For A Chance additionally helps the ladies’s recreation and, with the MCC Foundation and the UNHCR, has helped 1000's of refugees throughout Europe.

Cricket helps integration into communities. Omar Khan, chair of Bat For A Chance, stated: “Will is a force of nature, doing so much good. This kid is going places.”