Update from our CEO

Dear all,

I’m delighted to be penning my first message of 2026 to you following a very impactful first two months of activity to kickstart the year.

We were thrilled to share our 2025 Impact Report in the first week of the month with all our members, supporters and partners through a first of its kind event for us at City of London School. Not only were our guests able to see our cricket programmes in action before hearing about the report and our future direction in more depth, but the event was also hosted and led by our Youth Ambassadors. Another illustration of young people being at the heart of our work and decision making.

Our latest report is a powerful testament to what we, as a Taverners community, have achieved together over the past year. Thanks to your generosity, passion and commitment, we transformed the lives of 33,323 young people through our free, safe and inclusive cricket programmes. Young people told us they feel more active, confident and included following engagement with our programmes, and I know you’ll feel as inspired as I did reading the report, hearing directly from participants and seeing the real, measurable impact your support makes possible.

Our Impact Report doesn’t just capture data; it demonstrates cricket as a force for positive change in the lives of young people with a disability and facing socio-economic disadvantage. The growth we’ve seen across Wicketz, Super 1s and our cricket offer in SEND schools is exciting, but more importantly, the stories behind that growth are deeply impactful and enabling those we support to fulfil their potential.

This progress is rooted in the foundations we’ve built over 75 years as a charity, and the transformative three-year strategic cycle we’ve just completed, which now inform our vision through to 2030. Our strategy, revealed in the last week of February which outlines our ambition to ensure every young person can unlock and achieve their potential through cricket, places impact and outcomes for young people at the heart of all we do.

We have a great platform to build on and achieved a lot of life-changing impact through our work so far. But with your continued support we can ensure more young people facing the challenge of inequality can unlock their potential through cricket than ever before.

Looking ahead, there is so much to be excited about. Our Regional Table Cricket heats are upon us - an opportunity for SEND schools from across the UK to come together, compete, and celebrate the joy of cricket. These events, which start on 9 March, embody everything we stand for: inclusion, confidence building and fun. I know the competitive spirit and camaraderie of table cricket will be on show throughout, as schools battle it out for a place in our prestigious National Finals Day at Lord’s this May. Good luck to everyone taking part!

We also have a packed calendar of events that will bring us together over the coming months. One highlight I’m really looking forward to is our special Taskmaster event with TV show creator Alex Horne in September. This is set to be a brilliant night of laughter, challenge and support for the charity, with none other than 2025 Taskmaster winner Maisie Adams among the celebrities taking part. Tickets are on sale now, and I encourage everyone to join us for what promises to be a memorable evening in aid of our work. Beyond that, we have a wonderful programme of lunches, cricket matches, golf days, dinners and socials in store for you to enjoy throughout 2026 that will ensure we raise valuable awareness of, and funds for, our work. Make sure you regularly check the events listings on our website to see what is taking place near you and book your tickets.

None of this would be possible without you - our members, volunteers, fundraisers, partners and supporters. Your dedication fuels our ambition and gives young people opportunities they might never otherwise have had. As we continue into 2026 and beyond, I feel a genuine sense of optimism for what we can achieve together.

Thank you for your ongoing support. Let’s continue to Include, Empower and Inspire.

Best wishes,
Mark