Surrey County Cricket Club’s wicket keeper batsman Jonathan Batty has agreed to take on the role of Community Ambassador for Surrey throughout 2008.

Surrey County Cricket Club has a proud heritage of engaging with the local community, and is committed to making the facilities and programmes at the Brit Oval available to local people of all ages and backgrounds.

The appointment of Batty in the role of Community Ambassador is the next step in the development of the Club’s commitment to the community and it will see him become the face of Surrey’s main initiatives.

A large proportion of his role will be taken up with the Playing for Success initiative, which is an ongoing after school scheme run in partnership with Lambeth Council and the Department for Education and Skills. Batty will attend every Playing for Success Awards Ceremony as well as add to the value of some of the class time with regular in-term appearances.

Commenting on the appointment Surrey County Cricket Club’s Community Manager, George Foster said: "Surrey’s partnership with the local community is really growing from strength to strength and I think that this is demonstrated by the necessity to create the Community Ambassador role, which I am delighted Jonathan has accepted. He has been a great support of our key initiatives over the last few years so it is nice to be able to repay that hard work with this official position."

Batty added: “I had no hesitation in taking up the position of Community Ambassador. It is always nice to be able to put something back into the local community and this role will provide me with the perfect opportunity to do so.”

“Working with the community is an integral aspect of the Club’s philosophy and I am extremely honoured to play a pivotal role in helping this as it moves forward.”

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