chunter@thekmgroup.co.uk

A 21-YEAR-OLD student, entrepreneur and cricket fan is aiming to hit poverty for six with a specially designed cricket bat.

Charlie Munton, of Grange Hill, Plaxtol, has launched charity cricket bat manufacturer Bat4Africa and pledged to donate all profits to Street Child Africa, a charity which helps children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Currently studying economics at Durham University, Charlie has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting his first cricket bat company, Black Cat, at the age of 16, selling bats to amateurs and professionals around the world.

He launched Caprice Cricket as an umbrella company in 2012, and has now decided to use his success and skills for charitable means.

Charlie’s idea was to have a top-quality grade-one willow cricket bat manufactured at cost price and painted with African artwork.

He hopes to capitalise on the start of the cricket season, selling the stylish bats from website www.bat4africa.com until the end of June.

They retail at £250, with a minimum of £80 from each bat sold being donated to the cause.

He said: "With the Ashes this summer, we saw an opportunity to sell a top-quality product and raise much-needed funds.

"The money from this project will go a long way to changing these children’s lives."

Anthony Morton-King, executive director at Street Child Africa, said: "Children on the streets are vulnerable with no shelter and no responsible adult to help.

"Most have escaped to the streets because of extreme poverty, serious illness or death of a parent and family breakdown.

"The profit donated from Bat4Africa will be given to Street Child Africa so that street children are not alone and have an opportunity to be safe, learn and find joy again. When you purchase your Bat4Africa bat, you will helping us to make this happen."