Luton Core City-Community Engagement Focus Group: Dallow-Cricball January 2022
Weekly Crickball sessions take place at Dallow Community Centre Luton outside MUGA, sessions are a mixed of cricket and football delivered by Uzair and Mohammed both trained coaches, their training was delivered as part of the ECB Core City Workforce stream. These coaches also are key delivers for the Lords Taverners Wicketz programme which has a large footprint across the town.
Dallow is one of the most derived Wards in the town. Work has taken place also with the local Gurdwara where we have held cricket development days. On going work is taking place with the local primary school that has some old cricket net facilities in their grounds.
Father of 3 Kamran Shoukat regularly attends sessions and gave the following feedback:
‘My three sons aged 14,11 and 8 years of age love these sessions with a mixture of football and cricket. My father gave me good influences and stressed the importance of giving your kids time and positivity of life experiences.
I like the boys to keep active, away from screens and problems that children of their ages can come across if not given a focus. The boys also attend Wicketz, though we live in nearby Kingsway, it’s good to connect to other communities through sport in these sessions. Cricket is their passion, and these sessions help them get back into activity particularly post-Covid.
I really see the value in these sessions and try to be here as well to support the coaches and want them to continue. The skills and particularly the game scenarios help with leadership, decision making and communication when they have a chance to undertake the role of captain’.
Dave Summers Jan 2022