Lacuna Sports Launches Groundbreaking Inclusivity Guide for Grassroots Cricket Clubs to Support Women and Girls in the Game.
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Grassroots Clubs, W&G Inclusivity Guide. Read about it here
Lacuna Sports, in collaboration with Her Game Too Cricket and FabLittleBag, is proud to launch a pioneering Inclusivity Guide. This practical tool kit entitled Driving Change, Breaking Boundaries: A Roadmap to Becoming More Inclusive for Women and Girls has been designed to support cricket clubs nationwide in becoming truly welcoming, inclusive and ambitious environments for female players.
As part of its mission to remove barriers to playing, Lacuna Sports believes that no one should have to worry about their kit, facilities, or how welcome they’ll be when stepping onto the pitch. This guide is a direct response to the visible gaps and inequalities in provision and participation that have been highlighted in recent reviews by the ECB and Cricket Scotland.
“Sport has the power to inspire, empower and unite,” says Leigh Burns, Founder of Lacuna Sports. “But too often, women and girls face obstacles that prevent them from fully experiencing these benefits. We spend much of our time in grassroots clubs, and witness many wanting to tackle inequality, but they explain how hard it is to know where to start and are unaware of the resources available to them. This guide is about giving clubs the support and tools they need to make change – at any stage of their journey for the benefit of the next generation of female cricketers.”
Grassroots clubs are the beating heart of cricket in the UK, yet many struggle to implement change amid financial constraints, limited volunteers, and packed fixture calendars. This new blueprint offers straightforward, actionable advice and assistance to help clubs welcome more women and girls – not just to play, but to stay and thrive in the sport.
Within these pillars are quick, achievable tick lists for clubs to instil ‘basic’, ‘better’ or ‘best’ practice to empower them to attract, engage and retain women and girls. It also includes expert contributions and practical tips from influential voices in women’s cricket, including Sue Strachan, former President of Cricket Scotland, Melissa Kay, Development Manager at the Lancashire Cricket Foundation, and Sangy Theivendra, ECB and Middlesex Level 3 Coach and participation advocate.
Burns adds in reference to cricket clothing specifically; “Cricket appeals to a wide range of girls and women, and with that comes a wide range of body types, cultural backgrounds and personal preferences. One-size-fits-all does not work in female cricket. Research shows 70% of girls aged 15–19 drop out of sport, and clothing is one of the top reasons – often linked to confidence and body image concerns. We hear the same clothing concerns amongst our teamwear clients, from women of all ages. Providing clothing that fits – even if it is only a playing top or offering flexibility on what players wear – can increase numbers and enjoyment substantially, which helps the club (and the supporting County) with participation goals. In this guide we give advice that we have heard from clubs who have managed to address these gaps so that other clubs can learn from their successes.”
Talking of their involvement, Paige Caunce, Head of Her Game Too Cricket, says; “The sport has come a tremendously long way since W.G. Grace’s assessment that cricket was ‘not a game for women’. With participation numbers rising each year, and professional opportunities opening up, the Women & Girls’ game is flourishing like never before – however, there is still work to be done before we reach gender equality and stamp out sexism. Her Game Too are incredibly proud to have worked alongside Lacuna Sports and FabLittleBag to create this document with the aim of helping clubs across all levels of the game become more inclusive and welcoming environments for women and girls. Building on the momentum of the recent #AccelerateAction campaign for International Women’s Day, we hope that through these steps and guidance, clubs can establish – or work towards – a thriving W&G section. Cricket is well and truly #HerGameToo.”
Martha Silcott, Founder of FabLittleBag, who were partners in producing the guide, says; “It was an honour to have worked with Her Game Too and Lacuna Sports to create this document to help guide cricket clubs to being the best clubs they can be for the advancement of the women and girls game. Cricket has moved forward to embrace the plethora of benefits the women and girls game brings to clubs and the sport, but there is still progress to be made. This document provides a guide and checklist for clubs to follow. We believe that this contributes directly to the spirit of #AccelerateAction and hope that clubs find it useful and informative.”
By embracing inclusivity, clubs can improve community engagement, attract new talent, and benefit financially. Where female cricket has been nurtured, clubs report stronger membership numbers, greater success on the pitch, and thriving clubhouses.
#AccelerateAction
Download Driving Change, Breaking Boundaries: A Roadmap to Becoming More Inclusive for Women and Girls and learn how your club can get started.
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