The Lord’s Taverners, the leading cricket-based charity, has expanded its partnership scheme with County Cricket Clubs by confirming it will become Somerset Cricket Club’s recreational charity partner for the 2010 season.

The partnership between The Lord’s Taverners, which is dedicated to giving young people, particularly those with social, environmental, physical or learning disadvantages a sporting chance, follows in the footsteps of the ground-breaking affiliation with Essex County Cricket Club in 2009.

Last year saw The Lord’s Taverners team up with Essex for the first time, with the youth-based charity benefitting from the partnership through events at the Ford County Ground, including fundraising days, South African Winery, Rickety Bridge, wine tasting evenings and England Captain and Young Lord’s Taverners President, Alastair Cook, giving coaching sessions to local school pupils.

As the relationship with Essex continues to grow, 2010 will see Somerset and The Lord’s Taverners working closely to reach out to young cricketers throughout Somerset, focusing on the grass roots of cricket within the County. The Lord’s Taverners will look to develop closer ties with local clubs and schools in the area through Somerset Cricket Club.

With Somerset CC being the home of England women’s cricket, the current winners of the World Cup, The World Twenty20 and the Ashes, The Lord’s Taverners will look to give girls the opportunity to play cricket in the local area, with pathways through to national competitions, local clubs and development programmes. Since 2003, over 30,000 girls have taken part in The Lady Taverners Girls Under 13 and Under 15 Indoor and Outdoor Cricket Competitions and 2009 saw 737 girls teams take part in the Winter Indoor Competition and 248 girls team in the Summer Outdoor Competition.
 
Matthew Patten, Chief Executive of The Lord’s Taverners said, “As recreational cricket’s leading charity we are always looking at new ways to reach out to youngsters and grass roots cricket, and County Cricket Clubs provide a direct route of access to core cricket fans. 2010 is a very important year for the charity as we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee and reflect on the progression the charity has made over the past 60 years and this is yet another great illustration of how the charity is moving forward with innovative developments.”
 
Richard Gould, Chief Executive of Somerset Cricket Club added, “The partnership with The Lord’s Taverners is a hugely exciting development for Somerset CC. The Lord’s Taverners have an unrivalled heritage and track record in reaching out to youngsters and providing them with a sporting chance, and with our connections with local clubs throughout the county we are ideally placed to help connect Somerset’s youngsters with the great work the Taverners do.”
 
The partnership between The Lord’s Taverners and Somerset Cricket Club will be officially launched at the Somerset Cricket Club Press Day on Wednesday 24 March. 

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