A pioneering ECB initiative supported by the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund and LearnPlay Foundation has provided tech skills workshops and new opportunities to 138 young female cricketers in the West Midlands.
The initiative, which generated hugely positive feedback from participants and the girls’ teachers, targeted young cricketers at eight different schools with high free-school-meal eligibility figures.
Tim Pemberton, who leads the programme, said: “We’re thrilled with the response and impact of this programme. We aimed to raise aspirations for all the girls taking part, giving them new skills and insights into the type of careers open to them when they leave education. Girls are underrepresented in cricket and in tech so this was a natural shared audience for us to focus on.
“When schools engage with cricket, the pupils get more than just cricket. They get the physical and health benefits from playing sport, and all the soft skills around confidence, character and teamwork . We’re always looking for ways to take things a step further and this was an ideal way to do that, introducing the girls to coding and tech skills that could give them a whole new outlook.”
He added: “Our huge thanks go to LearnPlay Foundation for delivering the workshops, the Commonwealth Games Legacy Fund for funding the programme and to Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire for connecting their schools.”
Reactions from those taking part were hugely positive.
- Caitlin Perry, assistant headteacher at Hartlebury CofE Primary School, said: “Thank you so much for running the Programme. The children have loved it and we have had some great feedback.”
- Samantha Pritchard, teacher at North Walsall Academy, said: “Our children have really enjoyed the sessions.”
- And a parent of one Sytchampton pupil added: “I’ve never seen them leave a club with so much excitement and passion. All of them were so excited to come back this week.”
The eight schools taking part in the scheme were: Hartlebury, Edward the Elder, North Walsall Academy, Graisley, Eastfield Primary, Sytchampton, Selly Park Girls School, and Tenbury Ormiston High.
This work builds on the fantastic initiatives our cricket trusts and foundations are running across England and Wales. Using cricket as a vehicle for social change, supporting local communities and providing wider opportunities within health and education.