Lord Taverner's to launch new cricket programme
Later this month, a new programme to provide the first regular, year-round competition and coaching programme for disabled Londoners will be launched at the Lord's Taverners Disability Cricket Championships (LTDCC).
The new initiative is supported by the Wembley National Stadium Trust and aims to engage more than 640 disabled people across the capital.
Sport England Active People's Survey's figures show that just 18 percent of disabled people take part in sport at least once a week compared with 39 percent of non-disabled people. In EFDS's recent lifestyle report, 70 percent of disabled people say they would like to play more sport but 60 percent identified a lack of available opportunities prevents them from participating.
The LDTCC aims to bridge this gap by targeting those aged between 14 and 25 with an impairment, providing access to regular coaching and competition in local communities.
The Lord's Taverners, the UK's leading youth cricket and disability charity, will run the programme in partnership with the Essex, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey cricket boards with support from Interactive.
Wembley National Stadium has also pledged more than £80,000 over three years to support the programme. Paul Robin, Chief Executive of the Lord’s Taverners said:
"The Lord’s Taverners has a proud history of supporting disability cricket so I am delighted that this new initiative for London has won support from the Wembley National Stadium Trust as well as the four County Cricket Boards that we shall be partnering. We believe that all children benefit from playing competitive sport: physical disability should not be a barrier."
Lord Toby Harris, Chairman of WNST said:
"Wembley National Stadium Trust is currently supporting a number of significant projects aimed at increasing the opportunities for disabled Londoners to give sport a try. We also know that young disabled people, in particular, want to take part in competitive sport. That is why we are so pleased to be supporting The Lord’s Taverners with their work to make cricket more accessible. We very much look forward to seeing the work develop."
