Super 1s, a national project that is designed to give young people aged between 12 and 25 with disabilities the chance to regularly play cricket, is coming to Somerset in the near future.
By creating community cricket hubs for young people to receive coaching from county cricket boards, Super 1s gives participants the chance to compete against peers and enjoy the benefits of sport and an active lifestyle.
In Somerset over the next two years, the plan is to have a weekly hub located in each of the six Local Authority Areas.
For many young people with disabilities throughout the UK, opportunities to take part in regular competitive sport can be extremely limited and therefore the programme aims to:
- Develop the physical and mental well-being of players
- Help players make friends and engage with positive role models
- Provide an environment for competition amongst peers
After securing the funding to help deliver the initiative, Somerset Cricket Board’s Growth & Participation Officer, Steve Gass said:
“We’ve been succesful in securing seven hub sites across the county that will offer a weekly disability cricket session. It really is a big deal for us. It’s the equivalent to £140,000 over the next three years which will enable us to develop the programme, hire venues, support volunteers and make the hubs inclusive. This is a long-term project and hopefully it will have a knock-on effect in terms of our county disability team.”
Super 1s provides young people with a chance to realise their potential, both on and off the pitch. It enables them to discover what they can do, not what they can’t, and become role models for their peers.
Engaging in regular sport helps all young people develop personal skills, including confidence, leadership and independence. For young people with disabilities the opportunity to do this can be very limited.
Competition is a key element of the Super 1s programme. It provides participants with the opportunity to compete and this gives them a real sense of achievement.
Many of the Super 1s county and regional finals are held at iconic venues including Edgbaston, Emirates Old Trafford and Lord’s.
For more information please visit to the Super 1s section of our website.
To get involved as a volunteer, please contact steve.gass@somersetcricketboard.org
