For its final Gather networking event of the season, Intro has teamed up with Cumbria Cricket for an evening at Kendal Cricket Club.
It’s a fun event with lighthearted cricket challenges, but with a serious purpose.
The event, being held tomorrow, Tuesday June 30, focus will be increasing female involvement and introducing new audiences to the sport, as well as The Gather’s usual role in strengthening professional networks.
Guests will hear from the people shaping cricket across the county, sharing what’s happening behind the boundary and where the game is heading next, and watch a live T20 friendly.
Helen Statham, director and founder of Intro, said that for the final Gather of the season Intro had decided to do something different.
She said: “I haven’t held a cricket bat since Year 6 in primary school – and even then, I only joined the team because it got me out of lessons for the afternoon.
“This time I can’t wait to pick up a bat again and have another go.
“Cricket is all about partnerships, and we’ve chosen a great one in Cumbria Cricket.
“With their Making Cricket a Game for Me campaign, they want to ensure every girl and woman in the county can see a place for themselves in cricket, and that’s a goal we can get right behind.
“That’s the serious side of the evening but whether you’re a lifelong cricket fan or have never picked up a bat, there’s fun for everyone.
“We’ll kick off with welcome drinks before some light-hearted cricket challenges on the outfield. No experience needed – just a bit of competitive spirit and a willingness to give it a go.”
Today, 291 women and girls aged 10 to 40 are involved in cricket in the county.
Cumbria Cricket’s aim is to double this figure in three years and increase the number of girls’ teams and fixtures by 30 per cent by 2027.
Dave Fallows, head of the performance pathway for Cumbria Cricket, says numbers are growing year on year.
He said: “Increasing female participation is really important to Cumbria Cricket. There’s now a clear pathway to the top into professional sport for any boy and girl.
“It’s really important for us as Cumbria Cricket to make new partnerships to access the wider community to make sure everybody is welcome in cricket. And if we can make new partners and attract new people to the game, that’s only to the benefit.”
Craig Butterworth, of The Plain Creative Agency in Kendal and a regular attender at The Gather, is working with Cumbria Cricket to increase the number of females in the sport, and fundraising ahead of a major tour to India next year.
There are, he added, a number of obstacles to females playing cricket – it’s a complicated and expensive sport, Cumbria is a large county and there might not be a club close by, and grounds and facilities are not always suitable – but significant progress is being made.
Craig said: “Now the whole landscape is changing. There are really good established teams out there and obviously women’s cricket around the world has taken off and grown in popularity.
“And so the work Cumbria Cricket is doing is ensuring that anybody that wants to participate in cricket has got the ability to do so at whatever level they’re at.”
- The Gather End of Season with Cumbria Cricket, Tuesday 30 June, 5.45pm to 8pm, Kendal Cricket Club, Shap Road, Kendal. Tickets here https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/114651
