The Yorkshire Cricket Board (YCB) has hosted its first Women and Girls’ Cricket Conference, dedicated to celebrating the women and girls’ game across the county.
YCB invited more than 300 people, as well as key partners across the women’s game, including the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Metro Bank and Her Game Too, for a morning of presentations and networking, on Sunday, 19 May 2024.
The conference, supported by sponsors Marshall Wooldridge, was hosted by cricket influencer and cricket commentator Georgie Heath with guest speaker former England captain and Yorkshire cricketer – Jane Powell, President of Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC).
Volunteers and coaches, who have supported the record number of women and girls playing cricket across the county, were also thanked on the day with an invite to the conference and complimentary tickets to watch England Women take on Pakistan Women in the IWT20.
Powell said: “I think it’s really important to bring the YCB and the grassroots game and community together and to celebrate big events like this.
“It has been fantastic to see so many people here today who have a passion for women’s cricket.”
Rob Johnson, Women & Girls Lead for YCB, added: “Today provided us with an opportunity to showcase the women’s game and to say thank you to some of these incredible volunteers and key partners who have helped the region on this journey.
“We want to ensure that every woman and girl in this country has the opportunity to play and enjoy cricket. The YCB is committed to continuing to work alongside partners to ensure that all aspects of women’s recreational cricket continues to flourish across the county.”
During the conference, Yorkshire Cricket provided the following updates:
• Marshall Wooldridge becomes champion partner of women’s and girls’ cricket
YCB and Marshall Wooldridge, signalled a landmark moment for cricket with the start of a partnership designed to help deliver transformational growth to women’s and girls’ cricket communities across the region.
As part of the partnership Marshall Wooldridge is the title sponsor of the Yorkshire Women and Girls’ Cricket Conference 2024 and will have a presence across the recreational game in the region.
Paul Cummins, Director of Recreational Cricket for YCB, said: “Marshall Wooldridge share our passion, determination and energy to break down barriers and build on the huge progress we’ve made in women’s and girls’ cricket in recent years.
“While we have seen a record number of women and girls playing cricket across Yorkshire over the last three years, we know there is still much more to do. By working together with partners such as Marshall Wooldridge who share our ambition for the sport, I am confident we will inspire many more girls from all backgrounds to pick up a bat and ball.”
YCB have joined forces with FabLittleBag in a game changer for women and girls in cricket across Yorkshire. The partnership will provide ‘FabLittleBag Coaches Bags’ to all coaches of women and girls’ teams across Yorkshire. They will be packed with period provisions for anyone who needs them, helping to create welcoming environments and break down barriers to participation.
Donna Staniland, Head of Operations for YCB, said: “It’s amazing to announce this project that will benefit not just women and girls, but everyone involved in cricket across Yorkshire.
“Supporting clubs with period products and addressing disposal positively, helps to remove barriers hopefully providing clubs with a participation boost and, most importantly, making the game more women friendly.”
Martha Silcott, CEO and founder of FabLittleBag, said: “I am utterly delighted to extend a warm welcome to Yorkshire Cricket Board to our Period Supportive Movement.
“YCB are showing real leadership in ensuring that all their women and girls clubs have our Coach’s Bags meaning that periods are not a barrier to participation in cricket across Yorkshire. “We eagerly await collaborating with each club and helping them to create more inclusive and supportive environments.”
The YCB will be sharing information packs to all clubs where they can access the products by ordering online.
• Yorkshire launch extended Girls Regional Cricket scheme
YCCC announced the Girls Regional Cricket Programme for the 2024 season.
This will see an extension of the Girls Talent Pathway – with an additional 128 Girls at under-13 and 15 age groups, with 263 girls attending observations through April (following 466 attending County Observations).
There will also be eight additional games of cricket played throughout the summer finishing with a Girls Regional two-day festival at Scarborough College in August.
James Martin, Head of Performance Pathway for YCCC, said: “A thriving recreational game with an ever—increasing number of teams is providing a fantastic base for our Pathway system, and it’s brilliant to see so many young girls getting the chance and progressing to county level.
“With the changes to the professional women’s game recently announced, we are incredibly excited to take the game to the next level in Yorkshire and extend our pathway as part of the regional programme.”
