Wicketz Wednesdays: February round-up with our team

It’s been a very busy and productive February for our Wicketz programme across Bradford and Leeds!

As usual, weekly sessions have taken place across our three hub locations; Trinity Academy Leeds, Grange Interlink and Karmand Community Centre. Alongside this, we also hosted two great events during the February half-term week at Trinity Academy Leeds.

Finally, we also received some great news last month, after being awarded £8,000 from the Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) as part of the “Safer Communities Fund”. This recognizes our programme as one that can really make a positive difference within local communities, and we can’t wait to make use of this.

Highlight of the Month

It’s very difficult to pinpoint one specific highlight this month, as we’ve had so many, but it was amazing to host two successful events within the same week, with all participants enjoying themselves and creating some unforgettable memories!

The first of these events was a three day Wicketz X Enjoy Cricket camp, running from Monday 13th-15th February. We had close to 30 participants on each of these days and some great cricket was played. On the final day, we were lucky enough to have Yorkshire wicketkeeper Harry Duke in attendance! All the participants had the chance to ask Harry questions and even got the opportunity to bowl at him, this was an amazing experience for them all.

Our second event was a Wicketz hub competition, with three teams from our delivery locations across Leeds and Bradford battling it out in an indoor cricket competition. Once again some fantastic cricket was played, alongside all our teams showing great levels of sportsmanship!

We were also lucky enough to have Northern Superchargers player, Bess Heath in attendance. All players had chance to take part in a Q & A session, and even had the opportunity to bowl and bat against Bess. Once again this provided an unforgettable day for our participants, having the chance to share a pitch with a professional.

Coming up in March

We have more of the same in March, with weekly sessions continuing.

Our weekly session schedule:

Monday’s | 5pm-7pm | Trinity Academy, Leeds (LS9 7QL)
Tuesday’s | 5pm-7pm | Grange Interlink, Bradford (BD7 1PX)
Friday’s | 6pm-8pm | Karmand Community Centre, Bradford (BD3 9EP)

HULL

There’s been lots going on in Hull including our Wicketz groups attending a VPP (Violence Prevention Partnership) arranged by the Humberside Police Crime Commissioner. It was very good to see the strategy and how organisations can work together in the Hull area. And hopefully bring exciting opportunities for the future.

Before the half-term we also ran the Wicketz Hull (East) Festival at the Waudby Centre. More than 30 young people attended from the local primary school, alongside the Humberside Police team, who engaged with the young people and showed them around the riot van and allowed them to try on the equipment they use. Food and drink was also provided and the festival finished with a game between the children and the police team.

And finally there has been a successful start to the new hub at the Archbishop Sentamu Academy, with more than 18 young people attending the afterschool session as we continue to provide more Wicketz opportunity in the East of Hull.

Coming up in March

The Wicketz Hull program will continue at the below hubs:

Monday’s | 3:15pm – 4:15pm | St Richards VC Academy, Hull (HU9 5TE) – for children aged 8 – 11 years old.
Monday’s | 3:15pm – 4:15pm | Archbishop Sentamu Academy (HU9 5YB) – for children aged 11 – 14 years old.
Tuesday’s | 3:15pm – 4:15pm | Sirius Academy West, Hull (HU4 7JB) – for young people from 8 – 14 years old.

Pictured Rick Robinson, leading on a Wicketz session.

Keep an eye out for our monthly Wicketz catch-ups and if you’re interested in getting involved in our Wicketz programme, please contact:

Leeds & Bradford – Matthew Crookes
Email: [email protected]

Hull – Rick Robinson
Email: [email protected]