Having faith in cricket to unify

A new project with the aim of using cricket as a vechicle for social cohesion and faith integration has been launched in Leeds.

The Leeds InterFaith four-year Strategy was launched on June 20 at the InterFaith Family Fun day held at Leeds Caribbean CC.

The purpose behind the project is 'to use cricket as a vehicle for bringing together communities of different faiths and those from a disadvantaged background in order to break down perceived barriers and encourage friendships'.

The project will encourage friendships and community cohesion between different faiths including males, females, single people, people from low incomes, disabled people, young people, unemployed people living in urban areas, people living in rural areas from the Jewish, Christian, Musim, Sikh, Hindu and other religious communities.

The main focus will be:

• six annual Flagship Development Days
• two at Headingley, Leeds
• four in local communities

Having fun at the InterFaith family day

These will be followed by legacy coaching sessions within the communities with a view to have 'Inter Faith' leagues in the future at the various age levels.

Keith Ackerman, Leeds Jewish Rep Council, said: “We value this project because it helps to break down the barriers that unfortunately exist between the Muslim and Jewish communities.”

Tony Bowry, Yorkshire Cricket Board Development Manager - West Yorkshire & Diversity, added: “This programme has given us the tools to reach out to the wider communities across the city of Leeds, to create dialogue, and build partnerships while developing Cricket skills.”

Mahboob Nazir, Kashmir Muslim Welfare Association, said “Islam teaches us that we all originate from Adam and Eve, therefore we are all brothers and sisters in humanity. We all have differences, but it's not about allowing our differences to separate us, but to allow commonality to bring us together."

Andrew Watson, YCB Director of Development, summed up the whole project's possibilities, saying: “This is a fantastic opportunity for communities of different faiths to come together, to play cricket and to create lasting friendships.

"This project, due to the empowerment of young people and various faith officials, will start to make a difference and bring together communities of different faiths and those from a disadvantaged background in order to break down perceived barriers and encourage lasting friendships thereby supporting interaction and social inclusion”

Anyone who wishes to be involved with the project should contact Tony Bowry at Yorkshire Cricket Board