£8,000 funding boost for Wicketz from Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund
Our Wicketz project in Leeds and Bradford, delivered in conjunction with the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, has received a huge boost in the form of a £8,000 grant from the West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin’s, Safer Communities Fund, which will help fund the running of the programme over the next 12 months.
Wicketz is a free community cricket programme aimed at young people aged 8-19 living in areas with high levels of deprivation, using cricket as a tool for social change. Delivered by our charity in conjunction with local county cricket boards, Wicketz is about improving the prospects of young people and helping them gain the life skills they need to thrive and realise their potential through cricket.
There are over 150 young people engaging with the Leeds and Bradford Wicketz project every week through three hubs based at the Karmand Community Centre, Bradford Park Avenue/Grange Interlink and Trinity Academy Leeds. These locations have been targeted based on the indices of multiple deprivation and will all benefit from the funding boost.
Through regular cricket sessions, the Leeds and Bradford Wicketz project helps young people from disadvantaged communities develop key personal skills such as teamwork and problem-solving. It also incorporates life skills workshops and facilitates discussions which empower young people at each of the three hubs. Representatives of local authorities, the police and community leaders engage with the programme and become role models to participants by teaching ideas of social tolerance and cultural understanding. This positively impacts negative behaviours, which can help negate youth crime and disorder in Leeds and Bradford.
Leeds/Bradford Wicketz Development Officer, Matthew Crookes, said: “We’re very grateful for this funding from the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund. Wicketz is about so much more than cricket, it brings communities together through the sport and provides personal development and educational opportunities on key social issues for participants across the two cities.
“A very important aspect of Wicketz is that it’s free for all participants, which is vital for the young people that we want to reach. This grant will help us take the programme to even more young people locally and help us to continue having a positive impact on their lives.”
The Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund uses cash recovered by police and prosecutors from criminal activities and allows voluntary, community groups, charities and partners to apply for funding of up to £8,000 for projects.
West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, said: “My Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund uses money seized from criminals to support grassroots projects that are helping their local areas thrive.
“It’s really important that we invest in our young people and provide them with safe spaces to develop crucial life skills.
“I am delighted we have supported the expansion of the Wicketz programme, giving more young people the chance to shine, both on and off the cricket pitch.”
Wicketz sessions take place every week all year round, and if you would like more information about the project in Leeds/Bradford, please contact Development Officer Matthew Crookes on matthew.crookes@yorkshirecricketfoundation.com
