Lord’s Taverners cricket programmes making cricket more accessible for young people facing the challenges of inequality
The Lord’s Taverners exists to positively impact the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality.
The charity works across the UK and beyond to provide inclusive and impactful cricket programmes, empowering young people with disabilities and from disadvantaged communities to develop the knowledge, skills, capabilities and confidence required to overcome the challenges of inequality, raise their aspirations and reach their potential.
Wicketz is a community cricket programme, initially targeting young people aged 8-19, living in high areas of deprivation and hard to reach groups. The programme uses cricket as a vehicle for social change, focusing on understanding and tackling local issues that negatively affect young people and their communities.
The programme is now delivered in 18 cities across the country and bringing communities together through the sport.
Super 1s is a national disability cricket programme delivered across the UK. It provides young people with disabilities aged 12–25 with the opportunity to regularly access cricket to help improve physical and mental wellbeing, while giving a sense of belonging and to gain skills for life such as confidence and independence.
Now delivered in every single county, Scotland and Wales, thanks to support from the ECB and People’s Postcode Lottery, access to the game at the grassroots level for young people with a disability has never been better.
Introduced for the first time at the start of the 2022/2023 academic year, our work in special educational and disabilities (SEND) schools has ensured young people with a disability at 600 SEND schools have now accessed the game and all its personal development benefits.
The long-term goal is to reach all 1,500 SEND schools across England, Scotland and Wales while also signposting those engaging with the game to their nearest Super 1s hub so participants can continue playing the game outside of school.
As part of the charity’s disability cricket offer in SEND schools, a softball or table cricket option is available to coaches and teachers delivering sessions in school depending on what best suits participants in each setting.
Our cricket kit recycling programme collects usable cricket kit and equipment from across the UK, which is then sorted and redistributed to partner organisations within the UK and around the world, allowing young people with a lack of equipment to access the sport.
Table Cricket is an adaptive form of inclusive cricket, played on a table tennis table, aimed at young people with a wide range of disabilities who are less able to play other forms of cricket. It can be played competitively or for fun, both in an educational or community setting.
There is also the national table cricket competition which every SEND school is able to enter. This includes county and regional competitions, with the winner of these qualifying for the once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their school and region in National Table Cricket Finals Day at Lord’s.
The impact
All of these programmes have a positive impact on the lives of young people who engage with them. One great example of this is Bristol Wicketz participant, Frank.
Frank, 14, has had a challenging time in recent years, including the death of three grandparents, both parents being made redundant several times and the passing of his aunt. He has been having a tricky time at school – lots of detentions, minor truanting, falling behind academically, socialising with children who regularly get into trouble including two friends who often fight and get into trouble with the police, which Frank can get dragged into.
Disengagement from school followed and his teachers were worried about his extremely low self-esteem, suspecting that he may be autistic.
Throughout this difficult period, the one thing Frank remained positive about was his involvement in Bristol Wicketz. Frank feels well supported by the coaches and at ease during the sessions and says he is treated differently at Wicketz compared to how he is treated at school.
“Sam (Bristol Wicketz Development Officer) is the only person who thinks I’m capable of anything.”
The familiar routine has been a lifeline for Frank, giving him security and a sense of purpose. He is a committed team player who thrives on the motivation and feedback he receives and in turn he praises and encourages his teammates who frequently nominate him to be the captain of their team.
Frank’s mum says: “Cricket has given him something positive to build on and means he can meet people and share a passion for cricket rather than hanging out and getting into trouble. I’m hoping cricket can help further build his confidence. Wicketz allows you to be different.”
Due to Frank’s outstanding performance and his willingness to support others, he was selected to attend a Wicketz Festival at Repton School. Although still shy, he enjoyed being with the group and meeting lots of other young people from across the country. He was proud that after a tricky year at school he was able to show his parents that he’s capable of going away and doing something positive.
His parents can see that Wicketz gives him pride in himself when he’s not getting that from anywhere else. It allows him to see himself in a different way and see a future for himself.
“Frank is the heartbeat of the group – his calm, reassured manner around his peers makes him a popular team player and an outstanding role model who is thoughtful with the encouragement he provides,” said Sam, Bristol Wicketz Development Officer.
To find out more about the Lord’s Taverners programmes and how you can get involved with the charity, visit www.lordstaverners.org.
Lord’s Taverners are also offering a pair of tickets for Anderson’s England farewell. All you need to do is click here and enter through the form. That’s it!
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