ECB and Lord’s Taverners partnership to make disability cricket accessible in every county

A game changing £2m partnership will make life-changing disability cricket accessible in every county in England and Wales as part of the biggest investment into a disability cricket programme.

Launched today (April 29) the landmark partnership between the Lord’s Taverners and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will see the Super 1s disability cricket programme launched in every county and improve the sustainability of table cricket – increasing participation, inspiring social change and empowering tens of thousands more young people to fulfil their potential and build life skills through the sport.

Lord’s Taverners President and former England Captain David Gower said: “This partnership is a true game-changer for the Taverners. This is the largest investment by a cricket board into a disability specific programme and to work with the ECB is an incredible honour. The charity’s work has proved life-changing for so many participants and we’re very excited about the opportunity to bring our work to young people in every county across the country.”

Super 1s is already positively impacting the lives of thousands of young people in 20 counties and Scotland – but this will increase to all 39 counties thanks to the collaboration between the UK’s leading youth disability sports charity and cricket’s governing body.

Nick Pryde, Director of Participation and Growth at ECB said: “We’re committed to making cricket as inclusive and diverse as possible and this partnership will be a big driving force towards that. Bringing the Super 1s to every county really will change lives. It’s a fantastic way to increase accessibility and show that cricket can be a game for everyone.”

By the end of 2021, new programmes in Worcestershire, Northumberland, Devon, Wiltshire and an Eastern Counties project (Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire) will have been launched with the aim of being active in every county by 2024.

Super 1s, a national Lord’s Taverners programme delivered in conjunction with county cricket boards, gives young people living with a disability the chance to play regular, competitive cricket and giving participants the chance to interact with their peers and enjoy the benefits of playing sport.

But the programme is more than just about playing cricket, it improves physical and mental well-being, gives a sense of belonging and allows participants to make friends and gain skills for life such as confidence and independence.

The partnership will also fund the further development of table cricket which is currently played in 357 schools by over 8,800 young people across the country. The game allows young people with more limiting disabilities the opportunity to engage in cricket, as well as develop a network of young leaders and schools who engage.

Table cricket is an adapted version of cricket played on a table tennis table. Alongside the enjoyment of playing the game and competing, table cricket develops teamwork and social skills among players, while helping with coordination and cognitive skills.