An update from our CEO

Hi all,

As we reach the heart of another exciting summer of cricket, I continue to be inspired by the commitment and generosity of our members, volunteers, supporters and partners. Every month I have the privilege of seeing the difference your support makes to young people facing the challenges of inequality, and I want to begin by thanking you for everything you do for Lord's Taverners.

This month, I want to shine a spotlight on an area of our work that has never been more important – creating more opportunities for girls and young women to enjoy the life-changing benefits that cricket can bring.

While women's cricket continues to reach new audiences and inspire the next generation, with this being particularly prevalent right now with England in competition in a home women’s T20 World Cup, too many girls still face barriers to participation. Whether that's a lack of meaningful opportunities, suitable provision specific to their needs, the prejudices and cultures they are up against or simply feeling that the sport isn't for them, these challenges remain all too real and ultimately impact confidence and other feelings that we must all play a role in tackling, and at Lord's Taverners, we are driven and determined to play our role in changing that.

On a personal level as the dad of a cricket playing 13-year-old daughter I see the challenges and barriers that girls and young women face, but I also see the huge benefits and impactful outcomes they can realise by getting the opportunities to be actively engaged and meaningfully participate in the game. As a result, I strongly and passionately believe that the work the Taverners and our partners are doing to break down barriers and create opportunities for girls and young women to demonstrate their abilities and thrive is a crucial responsibility we all have that is a fundamental objective within our strategy.

Our Believe in Her campaign is all about ensuring every girl has the opportunity to play, belong and thrive through cricket. The campaign will help us grow inclusive programmes specifically designed for women and girls, creating more welcoming environments where girls and young women can develop confidence, friendships and a lifelong love of the game. If you haven't already, I'd encourage you to support the campaign before it closes. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us reach more young people and create opportunities that can have a lasting impact.

As part of the campaign, we're also offering supporters the chance to win tickets to the first ever England Women's Test at Lord's through our prize draw, which closes on Friday 3 July. It's a fantastic way to support our charity while also enjoying what promises to be a memorable occasion at the Home of Cricket, and it only costs £5 to enter.

The growth of the women's game is something we're incredibly proud to champion, and it is fantastic to see Lord's Taverners represented so strongly through The 53 women highlighted in the lead up to the current Women's World Cup. Sara, Liara, Katie, Hannah and more are vital role models in their communities and have played a huge part in growing the game and access for women and girls in cricket. Seeing members of our community recognised alongside fellow women who are shaping the future of women's cricket was another reminder of the important role our charity continues to play in making the game more inclusive for everyone.

This week, we'll also celebrate another special occasion as schools from across the country come together for our Softball Cricket Finals for SEND schools at Grace Road. These events perfectly capture what Lord's Taverners is all about. For many of the young people taking part, this is much more than a cricket competition. It's an opportunity to represent their school, build confidence, make new friends and experience the joy of being part of a team. I know everyone involved will create an unforgettable day for the participants, and I wish every school the very best of luck.

None of this would be possible without the incredible fundraising efforts taking place across our network. Over recent weeks we've seen yet more examples of supporters going above and beyond to help transform young lives.

Our Equitix Cricket Day raised an outstanding £21,000, while the Statom Ball generated an incredible £30,000 in support of our work. I'd also like to thank everyone involved in the recent P&M Group golf day hosted by one of the Taverners biggest supporters, Tony Wall and his incredible team as well as his wonderful wife Jackie. This event, in its fourth year, is organised in aid of the Taverners by P&M group, who bring together a huge number of their suppliers, customers and partners for a hugely successful day of fundraising and friendship, this year's event the biggest yet, and included a sponsors dinner on the eve of the event, which in total raised just under £50,000 over the two days, taking the total raised by P&M at this event to well over £100,000 in those four years.

Our North West region also organised another brilliant Cholmondeley Castle Cricket Day at the end of the month. Big thanks to the driving force behind the event, Peter Willis, Paul Walker and the committee for delivering another successful fundraiser while braving the heat.

In keeping with Taverners tradition, all of these events are about far more than the totals raised. They demonstrate the friendship, passion, hard work and the commitment of people as well as the creativity and generosity that has sat at the heart of the Lord's Taverners family for 76 years. Every event, challenge activity, dinner, golf day or community fundraiser helps us reach more young people and provide more opportunities that simply wouldn't exist otherwise. So, a huge thank you Tony and everyone else who gives their time and their talent to making these events such fun and exciting ways to raise crucial funds for, and awareness of, our work.

If you've ever thought about organising your own fundraising event, supporting an existing challenge or becoming more involved with the charity, I'd encourage you to take that first step. Whether you're hosting a lunch, taking on a sporting challenge, attending one of our events or introducing us to potential supporters, there are so many ways to make a difference. Our fundraising team is always on hand to help turn ideas into reality, and we'd love to hear from you.

I want to finish on a very sad note which is to add to the recent tributes I and others have made to the wonderful Judith Chalmers who passed away recently. I have been in touch with Judith’s son Mark to express to him, Neil and all of the family how incredible Judy was and what a magnificent ambassador she was for the Taverners. A former President and stalwart of the Lady Taverners, Judy will be hugely missed by so many, particularly across the Taverners family where her and her husband Neil have been involved for many, many years. Rest in peace Judy and thank you for bringing so much joy to our lives!

As always, thank you for your continued support. Together, we're ensuring more young people can experience the confidence, inclusion and opportunities that sport provides.

I look forward to sharing more of our progress with you next month and, in the meantime, I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the summer.

Mark Curtin

CEO, Lord's Taverners