Our Strategy: Unlocking Potential Through Cricket
Introduction
As Chair of Lord’s Taverners, it is my privilege to introduce our 2026–2030 strategy: Unlocking Potential Through Cricket.
For 75 years, Lord’s Taverners has sought to enrich the lives of young people through cricket, understanding that the game builds confidence, resilience, teamwork and a profound sense of belonging. Through our work, and through the time, energy and support of our members, friends and partners, Lord’s Taverners has provided opportunities for young people - for whom such opportunities might otherwise not have been possible - to access the game and discover the joy it brings.
And whilst the years bring change, our focus on young people has remained steadfast. Unlocking Potential Through Cricket sets out our commitment for every young person with a disability or facing socio-economic disadvantage to be able to unlock and achieve their potential through cricket. And that commitment is possible through the transformative work undertaken over the last five years that ensures we’re able to fulfil our mission meaningfully and to operate effectively and efficiently in today’s social, economic and cultural contexts.
When it came to setting and articulating our strategy through to 2030, we have sought to ensure it acts as that critical bridge to connect where we have come from to where we next want to get to, that it is simple and it is ambitious. We want to reach even further, achieve even more and deepen our impact.
But most importantly, this strategy is all about the young people we exist to support.
Every year, young people across the UK are empowered by our safe, free and inclusive cricket programmes. Over the past 18 months, our inaugural cohort of Youth Ambassadors have led the way in representing the young people we exist to support by helping shape our future.
Isaaq, one of our 13 Youth Ambassadors who is the first to make the transition from Wicketz participant to Development Officer, says it best: “Cricket gave me the confidence to find my voice - first as a Wicketz participant, and now as someone helping others start their own journeys. Lord’s Taverners didn’t just change my life; they’ve shown that young people like me belong at the heart of shaping our future.”
Unlocking Potential Through Cricket reflects the passion of our supporters, the dedication of our volunteers, and the courage and potential of the young people at the centre of our work. Together, we will continue unlocking potential through cricket, through inclusion and belief in every young person’s ability to thrive.
Join us in making this ambition a reality.
Lucy Pearson
Chair, Lord’s Taverners
Click to view our 2026-2030 Strategy
Click hereOur Ambition
Every young person can unlock and achieve their potential through cricket.
Our Mission
Be a leader in making cricket the most inclusive team sport by delivering high-quality, inclusive opportunities for young people living with a disability and for those facing socio-economic disadvantage.
Our Strategic Objectives Explained
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Inclusive cricket programmes for young people living with a disability.
Young people at all 1,500 SEND/ALN settings in England and Wales will be offered the opportunity to access cricket. These settings will continue to have access to our national table cricket competition and a new national softball competition.
Our inclusive and impactful Super 1s programme will continue to be delivered in every English county, Scotland and Wales, and we will continue to grow our national hub network. Pupils from all SEND/ALN settings will be signposted towards their nearest Super 1s hub to increase their engagement in the game and enjoy all the personal development opportunities it brings.
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Inclusive cricket programmes for young people facing socio-economic disadvantage.
We will expand the number of Wicketz hubs we offer through data led decision making, concentrating on young people living in Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) areas 1-3.
Increasing engagement with women and girls through Wicketz is a priority. Girls only hubs, more female role models and more meaningful collaborative partnerships within cricket will increase our capacity and capability to get more women and girls into the game.
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Empowering young people to shape their future, have a voice and demonstrate their capabilities.
Over the next five years we will transition to becoming a truly youth led organisation. Building on the strength of our inaugural Youth Ambassador programme, the next evolution of youth voice is introducing a formal youth board that embeds young people's voices in governance.
The future we're building will be co-created, led by those closest to the young people and communities our programmes exist to support.
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Young people achieve positive and personal outcomes to inspire others.
We will develop a new Theory of Change and impact framework. In addition, we’ll continue to apply a place-based approach to programme design and delivery, focussed on opportunities for young people to gain the skills, confidence and knowledge required to fulfil their potential.
Our Strategy in Depth
It's vital for the charity that young people we support through our inclusive cricket programmes are at the heart of shaping our future. This is why one of our Youth Ambassador's, Liara, leads our 2026-2030 strategy reveal alongside CEO Mark Curtin, as we strive to be more impactful than ever before.
