Rachel teams up with Lord's Taverners

Western Storm’s Rachel Priest helped to deliver a special day of cricket for local youngsters recently.

The event saw young people from the Lord’s Taverners Wicketz projects in Plymouth and Bristol come together for a day of competition and life skills workshops.

The festival was held at the Devon Cricket Centre in Exeter and was attended by 40 children aged between eight and 12.

Before the cricket tournament started, participants took part in a Sugar Smart workshop before New Zealand international Rachel helped to deliver a cricketing masterclass.

Wicketz was introduced in Plymouth in 2017 and runs weekly sessions at three hubs in Millbay, St Budeaux and North Prospect. The scheme was introduced in Bristol in the same year and runs weekly sessions at three hubs in Knowle, Fishponds and Southmead.

Wicketz is made possible thanks to the support of players of the People’s Postcode Lottery (PPL). Players of PPL play with their postcodes to win cash prizes while raising money for charities and good causes across Great Britain and internationally.

“Throughout the country, Wicketz is breaking down barriers and empowering young people to fulfil their potential and build crucial life skills,” explained Wicketz National Project Manager Dan Wilson.

“Knife crime, confronting extremism, unemployment and healthy eating are just some of the local issues that our programmes tackle across the country while also developing team work, confidence, leadership and independence – all using cricket as the tool to engage young people.

“There is no better way to celebrate and demonstrate our ongoing work than bringing together two communities. Sport removes barriers and allows young people who would never usually integrate work towards a shared goal.”