Thunder Cricket and Manchester Originals cricketer Fi Morris joins Manchester Originals teammate and Central Sparks player Ami Campbell for a fantastic Prep School Taster Day at Oakham School

We love it when we can combine a dream team, sunshine and a lot of cricket fun into one programme. That is precisely what happened during our day at Oakham School for their prep school girls’ cricket taster day.

In the lead up to an exciting summer of cricket, and the women’s game taking the country by storm in The Ashes and The Hundred, the popularity of the women’s game has grown even more since our visit last year to Oakham School, so we were delighted to see so many more young faces joining us for our special day. This year we not only had one female cricketer but two inspirational women to join the students for the day.

Both Fi Morris and Ami Campbell started their cricket journeys where the young women in front of them are starting and shared their insights with the students about how they had started in the garden, with their families and at school, and then the love for the game had grown from there.

Fi and Ami put together a carousel of cricket activities for the students to get involved in whilst walking around the stations to share their top tips with the budding athletes.

According to the ECB, the number of cricket clubs involved in developing womens’ and girls’ cricket has increased from 93 to more than 615 over the last decade, and we are determined to be part of the growth by inspiring girls to kickstart their cricketing journey via visible sporting role models.

Joining Fi and Ami for this special masterclass day were students from, Brooke Priory, Copthill, Spratton Hall, Laxton Junior School, and Oakham School.

Fi and Ami loved meeting the students during the day and enjoyed walking around the large group to offer 1-1 support on technical aspects, as well as hearing more about the players’ cricketing journeys so far.

 Towards the end of the day, it was brilliant for the students to be able to ask their burning questions to our two professional cricketers and learn more about what it takes to compete at the top of the game and travel the world with your sport too.

We also had time for photos and autographs with our empowering role models. Some of the best questions that the students asked on the day were:

What top tips do you have for playing cricket?

Did either of you play any different sports?

Who did you play against in your first match?

Who was your sporting hero as a child?

What countries have you visited?

What jobs would you have if you weren’t professional cricketers?

What is your biggest challenge?

How old were you when you played your first match?

Who is the hardest player to play against?

Thank you very much to the Oakham School staff for welcoming Fi, Ami and Team Mintridge for the afternoon. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer holiday full of cricket (and watching Fi and Ami compete for Manchester Originals in The Hundred, of course…).

To view the Women and Girls Player Pathway within the ECB, click here.

To look at a local cricket club with a Girls Section, click here to view Oakham Cricket Club information.

If you would like to understand more about our mentoring programmes with elite athletes and how they can support the young people at your school or club, please contact Katie Smith.

If you are considering supporting the Mintridge Foundation as a business, organisation or as an individual, head to our SUPPORT US page below.

Where Can You Watch Fi and Ami Play This Summer?

GET INVOLVED!

The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity that wants every young person to have a positive relationship with sport.

What Problem Are We Tackling?

In a world of superficial social media presence, increasing sedentary lifestyles, a mental health epidemic and the long reaching impact of Covid - 19, young people need to see a greater variety of sporting role models. Young people need the Mintridge Foundation more than ever.

Research commissioned by Continental Tyres, an official partner of the England Lionesses highlighted that 60% of girls aged between 11-17 believe an inspirational role model is the best way to kick start a sporting journey.

By giving people the confidence to move, they will find the confidence to shine and overcome life's challenges.

How Do We Achieve Our Mission?

The Mintridge Foundation harnesses the unique platform of sporting role models far beyond their medals.

Our team of Ambassadors  - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual deliver holistic sports provision in schools, clubs and colleges across the UK for young people from all walks of life, of all abilities and physical capabilities via four strands:

1)      Presentations and classroom sessions to share their unique sporting journey.

2)      Coaching sessions to kickstart a healthy sporting journey or to help nurture an existing pathway.

3)      To ensure the greatest legacy, some students have the opportunity to be mentored remotely by the Ambassador for a period of six months to offer continued support for their mental and physical fitness (delivered via safeguarded technology).

4)      One parent / carer and staff member with each mentee receives tickets to watch their Ambassador compete and get behind-the-scenes access at a live sports fixture to showcase the power and opportunities of sport.

Each child has a unique journey. We believe that Mintridge Ambassadors help young people live well and develop mental and physical fitness superpowers. Sports stars have an incredible ability to ignite a fire within the young people they work with. Mintridge athletes, previously only seen on television, stand in front of students in person, give their time, expertise and advice. This makes the students feel special, they truly listen to the athletes in a different way to many other adults in their lives. Someone important is giving up their time for them, someone relatable.

Our Impact?

Our programmes change lives, and we are always thrilled to learn just how far-reaching and positive the outcomes can be, demonstrating the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness through participation. Equally, we have helped rebuild families and given young girls the confidence to own their own stage!

By bridging a gap and sprinkling the Mintridge magic, we are helping young people see what they can be, and that possibilities really are endless.

Young people learn life skills such as teamwork and leadership, they gain a sense of empowerment and the ability to receive constructive coaching preparing them for the workplace too.

Dual Impact

Both parties (mentor and mentee) leave our programmes feeling enriched and inspired.

The ripple effect of the programmes upon peers and the young person’s family creates an even greater positive benefit – positive repercussions are ongoing to ensure that more people are living well.

Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.

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