LORD’S TAVERNERS CREATE A MILLION CHANCES

More than one million new sporting chances were created by the Lord’s Taverners in 2016 – and millions more will be created by the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity as part of ambitious expansion plans over the next three years.

The success of corporate partnerships with major brands such as BT and Berkeley Homes means that not only were 70,000 disadvantaged and disabled young people given a sporting chance, but partners were also able to deliver their commercial and corporate social responsibility objectives. The charity’s plans to grow its UK activity will give more partners the chance to align with its life-changing programmes.

Having worked with the Lord’s Taverners to install 30 state-of-the-art sensory rooms at schools across the UK, BT Group’s Charity and Community Director, Suzy Christopher, explained, “We’re delighted to support the Lord’s Taverners, in particularly the BT sensory room programme that has seen 30 state-of-the-art facilities installed at schools across the UK. These support the educational and physical development of children with a wide range of disabilities including autism, communication problems and sensory impairment. Our involvement with the Lord’s Taverners also gives our people an opportunity to support the charity’s many disability sports events through volunteering, enabling them to give something back while developing their skills."

In partnership with the Berkeley Foundation, the Lord’s Taverners Disability Cricket Championships was delivered across 23 London Boroughs in 2016 and over the next three years this will expand to all 32 Boroughs and other major UK cities.

Stuart Cowen, Chief Executive of the Berkeley Foundation, said: “It’s an outstanding programme that really assists disabled young people to participate in sport and lead fulfilling lives. It has been really exciting to be involved in a programme that means so much to young people and grown so quickly: from four Boroughs to 23 in three years. That is why the Berkeley Foundation renewed our partnership with the Lord’s Taverners and we look forward to seeing all London Boroughs participating.”

The Lord’s Taverners plans to enhance the lives of thousands more young people across its youth cricket and disability sport programmes over the next three years include:

• Expanding the Wicketz programme from three to 11 areas of high deprivation within the UK.
• Growing the sport of table cricket and expanding the programme from 100 to 300 participating schools while developing 60 young leaders.
• Developing the Disability Cricket Championships to ensure all 32 London Boroughs participate, and expand the programme to a further eight locations outside of the capital.
• Delivering 120 new specially adapted minibuses. · Providing 300 sports wheelchairs and supporting junior development in wheelchair basketball and Boccia
• Maintaining a consistent programme of providing specialist play equipment to schools and organisations that cater for young people with disabilities.

Lord’s Taverners CEO Paul Robin said: “Our annual Impact Report highlights both the achievements and the ambition to continue to be the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity. We are committed to making significant expansion across our core cricket and disability sport programmes that enhance the lives of some of the most marginalised and at risk young people in the country. It’s an exciting time not only for the charity, but also for our current and potential partners as we reach out to thousands more disadvantaged and disabled young people to give them a sporting chance.”