Information
Our partners include:
Quotes
""It was a great leveller to meet people who have had to deal with the impact of limited vision. Not just the kids but the parents as well. It was very inspiring""
TWO WORLD LEADING CRICKET CHARITIES BREAK NEW GROUND BY TAKING THE GAME TO UK HOUSING ESTATES
Jan 7, 2011
The Lord’s Taverners and Cricket for Change (C4C) have come together to build a new 3-year programme that will put cricket at the centre of the bid to build a ‘Big Society’. The partnership will extend the game’s reach beyond schools and clubs, making it accessible in 15 UK cities to 5,000 new young players through a nationwide network of 150 local community groups.
Based in or around housing estates seriously affected by gangs and youth crime, ‘The Lord’s Taverners Cricket for Change Programme’ will be run by local young people and offer regular access to competitions. Participants will play a super-short form of the game known as 'Street20' that is inexpensive, easy to learn and that can be played almost anywhere.
An army of young coaches will be trained and funded to set up their own teams on estates and play other inner city groups in new local tournaments every half-term and school holiday. Regional and national competitions will also be held twice a year allowing teams from Bradford to Bristol to become national champions at the sport they love. Perhaps most importantly the programme will create a platform for young people to learn about making a positive impact in their own communities.
22 year-old ex gang-member, C4C Development Manager and current ECB Young Coach of the Year, Adam Hall, will head up the programme. “I know from experience how getting involved with gangs can mess up your life. Cricket has helped me find a way out of trouble. I want other young people with street knowledge, charisma and leadership skills to put their energies into helping run this programme so they avoid getting into gang-related nonsense. We want them to be proud of their actions and for their communities to be proud of them, too.”
Matthew Patten is CEO of The Lord’s Taverners, the official Charity of recreational cricket and the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports Charity that helps some of society’s most disadvantaged young people. “Cricket is currently riding a wave with the national team doing brilliantly and participation in schools and clubs on the up. But in many communities, too many disadvantaged young people don’t have access to the social and health benefits that regular involvement in competitive team sports like cricket can bring. Both Charities are committed to changing this and in working together as a team we will be able to reach and achieve much more for those young people than by working apart.”
Cricket for Change has spent 30 years becoming the world leader in using the game to improve the lives of disabled and socially-excluded youngsters. CEO, Andy Sellins, sees this partnership as a new way to engage with young people often portrayed as a ‘problem’. “We have had great success in London training young coaches to support and inspire other young people from a similar background to theirs. Our job is to tap into their energy to help them change the face of their communities. By doing this we can create a growing movement that will change the face of grassroots cricket forever.”
- ENDS -
For more information about The Lord’s Taverners please contact James Gillson
on 020 7821 2828 or james.gillson@lordstaverners.org
For more information about Cricket for Change please contact Dominic Cotton
on 0208 669 2177 or 07767 686632 or dominiccotton@cricketforchange.org.uk
