How your school can make a positive impact in the community by supporting the Lord’s Taverners charity

As many of you reading this will be aware, the Lord’s Taverners has a long history and association with cricket.

As the charity enters its 75th anniversary year, the impact it has through national inclusive cricket programmes, on young people from disadvantaged communities to those living with a disability who are at risk of inequality, is the strongest it has ever been.

Its programmes are now delivered in every English county, Scotland and Wales, and there are so many ways in which you and your school can help the charity to continue growing its impact and reach.

There is already evidence of the difference a strong link between schools and local  programme projects can make on young people in communities near you.

Fettes College, Edinburgh

In October 2023, Fettes College in Edinburgh became a standalone hub for the Edinburgh Wicketz project. The sessions, which are delivered by Cricket Scotland, combine cricket coaching and competition with workshops that are designed to improve the participants wellbeing, life skills and social integration.

Access to the school’s facilities has enabled young people from disadvantaged communities in the city, who would not have had access to such facilities before, to take part in their first ever hardball cricket sessions. Just one year on from the introduction of this hub, there are now 49 participants in Edinburgh benefiting from free access to cricket and all the personal development opportunities that brings.

Friendships have been formed, valuable life skills learned and opportunities being provided such as cricket coaching courses being delivered on site have been beneficial to those who have got to a place where they are ready to take that step. Young people from these communities gaining such qualifications can only benefit the local community and increase the number of role models, coaches and access to all the roles and opportunities available through the game.

Mohammad Afzal, Edinburgh Wicketz development officer, says: “We are so grateful to Fettes College for loaning us their fantastic sports hall for our Edinburgh Wicketz sessions. It’s amazing to be able to give participants the opportunity to use the sports facilities Fettes has and encourage more people to get involved in the sport.

“Cricket can serve as a valuable tool for educating young people on physical fitness, teamwork and communications skills, as well as improving character development and allowing for personal growth, helping young people build life skills that will serve them well in various aspects of their lives.”

Mark Appleson, director of sport at Fettes College adds: “We’re pleased to host the Edinburgh Wicketz project’s hard-ball cricket sessions at Fettes. What the programme does for disadvantaged young people across the UK is incredible, and provides them with an outlet to learn new skills, make friends and improve their wellbeing. It’s great to see young people taking part and having fun.”  

How can you follow in Fettes College footsteps?

There are numerous ways to engage with the charity and it’s cricket programmes. The charity would be very open to discussing ways in which you could work together. Some of the options are listed below:

• Make your facilities available for Taverners programmes in your area.

• Spread the word within your networks and communities about the work of the charity.

• Make coaching and volunteer opportunities available for your staff and pupils by partnering with a project near you.

• Fundraise for the Taverners work in your area – either through your own school activities or one of the many challenge events the charity has access to.

• Partner with your alumni to host a fundraising event – perhaps a match against the Taverners Celebrity Cricket XI?

• Offer support to any of the Lord’s Taverners programmes that work with young people in your communities. For example, could someone connected with the school run a life skills workshop at a nearby project?

There is so much that could be gained from a mutually beneficial partnership, and the Lord’s Taverners would ensure that awareness of any potential link up is publicised both locally and through its own communication channels, with the priority of making cricket as accessible as possible at the heart of it all.

The Taverners have staff located across the country, whether it be the local Development Officer who delivers and oversees programme activity or a member of the central staff team, who could work closely with you on any relationship that may arise. 

If you’d like to start a discussion please contact Madeline Power on madeleine.power@lordstaverners.org or 020 7025 0000

Lord’s Taverners cricket programmes

The Lord’s Taverners positively impacts the lives of young people facing the challenges of inequality.

The charity works across the UK 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 and reach their potential.

Wicketz

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 focuses on understanding and tackling local issues that negatively affect young people and their communities.

Super 1s

Super 1s is a disability cricket programme which is delivered across the UK. It provides young people with disabilities aged 12–25 with the opportunity to regularly access cricket and helps improve physical and mental wellbeing. Each Super 1s project and session is adapted to ensure all participants experience a sense of belonging while gaining skills for life such as confidence and independence.

Work in SEND schools

The charity is now making cricket accessible for more young people with a disability than ever before through sessions delivered in special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) schools across the UK. Sessions are adapted to ensure participants get the chance to engage in the most appropriate form of cricket (softball or table cricket) and raise awareness of their nearest Super 1s hub to encourage participation in the game outside of their school setting.  

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