Members of the Somerset playing squad have once again been lending their support to a special initiative called Super 1s.
Ben Green, George Bartlett, Jack Brooks, Will Smeed, Lewis Goldsworthy, Kasey Aldridge and Ned Leonard visited cricket clubs across the region to help deliver the Super 1s sessions.
Super 1s is a Lords Taverners funded programme in Somerset that gives young people with a disability aged 12-25 the chance to play regular, competitive cricket.
By creating community cricket hubs where young people can receive coaching, participants get the chance to compete against their peers and enjoy the benefits of playing sport.
Following the sessions, Steve Gass, Community Manager of Somerset Cricket Foundation said: “It was wonderful to have the engagement of the professional players at some of our hubs. To have the players supporting and competing in a session was a real boost.”
The parent of one of the participants said: “My son really enjoyed the evening. It was inspiring to have the players from Somerset County Cricket Club at the session. My son’s confidence has improved so much since joining. Seeing him hit hose balls was amazing.”
Andrew Skidmore, Head Coach of the Taunton Dragons, remarked “Both George and Ben attended our session and they got involved straight away. They were brilliant at engaging and relating with the young people. In fact, George was asked if he could be the new coach!”
Super 1s is a weekly disability programme for young people aged 12-24. Sessions are free to attend and there are currently seven hubs operating in Somerset:
- Bath Pythons
- Mendip Gators
- North Somerset Hounders
- Sedgemoor Lions
- South Somerset Bears
- Taunton Dragons
- South Bristol
- Chard Cricket Club also run the Chard Raptors in the Summer.
For more information about disability cricket in Somerset, please contact Steve Gass Steve.Gass@SomersetCricketFoundation.org