WCF work with community groups around Warwickshire and Birmingham to deliver sessions at SEN (Special Educational Needs) schools throughout the year.
On Thursday 30 July, though, members of community groups who had not previously taken part in cricket were invited to Solihull Blossomfield Cricket Club for a series of fun drills centred around batting, bowling and catching.
Those in attendance were free to play as much or as little as they wished to, in what was a relaxed and supportive environment.
“SAtA have loads of community groups who we are in partnership with,” Nigel Perry-Ogden, WCF Disability Development Officer, explained. “They were all adults who have learning difficulties and almost nobody who turned up had played cricket before. It was really good to see so many new faces.”
Many of the attendees were in their forties, fifties and sixties and their disabilities varied; there were participants with Down’s Syndrome, autism, severe learning difficulties and those with visual impairments.
“We managed to tailor the day to all needs and we were there to facilitate however much or however little they wanted to do,” Nigel, who was supported by WCF coaches Sachi Manokaran and Dean Wattison on the day, said.
“The hope is that we'll be able to do some sessions off the back of it, either within the community groups or alongside attendees coming to some of our existing hubs. That's the aim.”
There was a steady flow of visitors to the open day throughout the morning and it is estimated that the turn-out peaked at around 50 participants and carers at one stage.
Despite a rain delay midway through the event, spirits remained high and cricket continued to be enjoyed into the afternoon.
The open day success follows on from the fruitful year that WCF have had across their ten SEN hubs, which are located around Warwickshire and Birmingham.
Stationed across the region, there are hour-long sessions on a weekly basis overseen by WCF staff who are passionate about introducing the game of cricket to those who might not otherwise have access to it.
The hubs can be found from Chelmsley Wood to Knowle and Dorridge Cricket Club, as well as the likes of Solihull, Shirley, Foleshill, Hall Green, Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington.
Through the hubs, attendees - who mostly range from the age of seven or eight up to their late twenties - can enjoy the sport in various forms, including softball and table cricket.
WCF also works closely with SEN schools across the region - according to a Sport England survey, disabled people are nearly twice as likely to be physically inactive, so WCF not only aim to ensure everyone can participate in cricket but also to improve their physical health.
“The hubs are around the year,” Nigel says. “It's basically to show those who take part that it's not necessarily what their pre-conceived idea of cricket might be in terms of just being stood in the middle - we play different games to practice skills.
“We want to break the misconception and break the barriers that might mean they think ‘oh, I can't stand in the field for two hours’ - you don't have to.”
Offering young people a pathway into cricket has also led to a greater interest in the sport itself, at a professional level.
“Over the past two or three years, we’ve had schools come to Edgbaston and watch County Championship cricket or a women’s ODI,” Nigel added. “Many love coming down off their own backs anyway and watching cricket - some weren’t into cricket before they started playing with us and now come down to Edgbaston.
“It’s a great microcosm of the whole environment - people play cricket because they’re interested in cricket, so they want to watch professional cricket and it means bums on seats at Edgbaston.”
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