Some partnerships feel important from the very first conversation. Our relationship with the CATCH TRUST is one of them; an extension to our valued partnerships with Bat For A Chance and the MCC Foundation.
The CATCH TRUST was founded by former World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten and operates under a belief that is simple and quietly radical: Talent is Universal. Opportunity is Not. Through cricket, the organisation builds sporting and life skill ecosystems in South African townships and low-income communities, creating access to coaching, facilities and futures that would otherwise be out of reach.
When we were asked to provide match kit for their first women’s team’s UK tour, we said yes immediately.
For many of the girls on the programme, cricket is far more than a sport. It is a route to confidence, to leadership, to friendships and ambitions that stretch well beyond the boundary. As Leigh, our founder, puts it:
“From our first conversation with Tim and Leanne at Catch, we realised that this partnership is about much more than producing teamwear. It is about helping remove barriers that stop girls participating in cricket. It is about creating clothing that genuinely fits female players. It is about helping young cricketers feel comfortable, united and proud when they walk onto the field. Most of all, it is about supporting organisations like the CATCH TRUST that are changing lives through cricket every single day.”
We travelled to South Africa to meet the coaching team and, most importantly, the girls themselves. It sits among the most meaningful experiences we have had as a business. We watched them train and play. We listened to their stories. And then we asked them about kit. Not what we thought they should wear, but what they wanted to wear to feel comfortable, confident and part of a team.
We ran a design workshop together, exploring colours, styles and ideas. The excitement in the room was something else entirely. The girls threw themselves into it, discussing designs, debating options and imagining what it would feel like to pull on a kit created specifically for them, one that represented their communities, their identity, their team.
Back in the UK, the work continued. Designs were developed, refined and shared back. Conversations crossed continents. Feedback was taken seriously and details adjusted until it felt right. The kits are now in production and almost ready for delivery.
One thing that stayed with us long after we left was the care the players took of their kit and equipment. Much of it had been generously donated through organisations like Bat For A Chance and other CATCH TRUST supporters, yet every shirt was carefully folded and every item was treated as something precious. Not because they were told to, but because they understood what it represented.
That is exactly why partnerships like this matter to us.
At the end of June, the squad lands in England. Supported by an incredible network of partners, they will play fixtures against local teams, stay with host families, experience life in the UK and attend Women’s T20 World Cup matches. We cannot wait to see them walk onto the field in their Lacuna kit for the first time on 27th June.
We are honoured to be part of their journey.
Follow along at @lacunasportsuk on Instagram as the summer unfolds.
