The Shepley Group have today extended their support for local amateur youth sport, having signed a sponsorship agreement with Cumbria Cricket U15’s Girls team.
This will not only support the development of the sport in Cumbria, but supports the County Cricket Board’s aim of increasing diversity and inclusion.
Cumbria Cricket is one of 39 County Cricket Boards in England and Wales, whose role is to lead, inspire, influence and support the growth, quality and accessibility of Cricket.
The deal will see Shepley Engineers, West Cumberland Engineering and PPS Electrical sponsor the shirts of the U15 team, to boost funds and support their attempt to bridge the gap between the men and women’s game.
Girls cricket has only recently had the support to grow over the past couple of years, and the pandemic hasn’t helped that progress. Transforming women & girls’ cricket is one of the Club’s strategic objectives, and they are putting more focus toward it.
The main challenges female cricketers face are around simply finding out where to play, and the underlying stigma that it is a game for boys. The funding from this sponsorship will allow Cumbria County Cricket to run more programmes prioritised towards women and girls, to let them know that the game is available and open to everyone, especially in areas of deprivation where it may have been harder to get involved previously.
The Board actively deliver sessions to approximately 90 primary schools, through the ‘Chance to Shine‘ programme, as well as their own tailored programmes, and then transition into clubs running ‘All Stars‘ and ‘Dynamos’ programmes. These are the starting steps of a career that could take them all the way to playing for England.
We hope this sponsorship will have a major impact in promoting participation, help the sport develop locally and across the county, and grow some fantastic young female Cumbrian talent that may one day be playing for England.
