What is Wicketz?
Wicketz is a free cricket programme for young people aged 8-16, living in inner city communities.
By establishing sustainable community cricket hubs, we provide year-round weekly cricket sessions across Bristol and Gloucester with a focus on breaking down barriers, developing crucial life skills, creating stronger communities and enabling brighter futures for those taking part.
How does it work?
Sam Emmott & Wilf Brooke are the dedicated development officers responsible for the running of multiple local hubs across Bristol and Gloucester.
Sam & Wilf work closely with the young people that come along to the sessions, many of whom are from non-traditional cricketing backgrounds, including young offenders, refugees and excluded pupils. Sessions – which use a soft ball – currently take place at venues in Southmead, Knowle, Hartcliffe, Patchway and Coney Hill, and are open to players of all levels of ability. Every Wicketz session is run by qualified coaches and all equipment is provided.
How does it help young people?
Through cricket, Wicketz aims to tackle local issues affecting young people and their communities.
Alongside cricket coaching and games, the young people taking part have the chance to learn from role models, community leaders, local authorities and others. Specially designed workshops also boost well being, social education, community awareness, promote positive life choices and develop new life skills.
Weekly Sessions
All of our hubs are free for girls and boys aged 8–16. No equipment needed, just turn up and play!
Volunteering Opportunities
Wicketz offers a range of opportunities for volunteers from coaching to administration.
If people are able to help on a long term basis, the Lord’s Taverners will help fund relevant training and qualifications such as, coaching badges and IT courses. This will not only help to sustain the Wicketz hub, but also offer future employment opportunities for the volunteer.
In addition to providing formal qualifications, Wicketz also provides informal support, mentoring and development opportunities for individuals who are able to commit time to the programme. One person to benefit by volunteering with Wicketz is Wilf Brooke, who started his journey with Wicketz as a volunteer, before taking on the role of Development Officer full time.
Sam Emmott / Wicketz Development Manager
Sam joined the GCF as the Wicketz Development Officer in August 2019. Funded by the Lord’s Taverners, Wicketz aims to tackle local issues affecting young people and their communities. Sam has developed the Wicketz programme so much that in 2024 he took on additional full time staff, specifically for the programme, and was promoted to Wicketz Development Manager.
Sam has been responsible for the running of multiple local hubs across Bristol and has worked closely with the young people that come along to the sessions, many of whom are from hard-to-reach groups, including young offenders, refugees and excluded pupils. Sessions, which use a soft ball, currently take place at venues in Southmead, Knowle, Fishponds, Patchway, Hartcliffe, and have most recently opened in Gloucester thanks to Sam’s expansion of the programme. The sessions are open to players of all levels of ability. Alongside cricket coaching and games, the young people taking part have the chance to learn from role models, community leaders, local authorities and others. Specially designed workshops also boost wellbeing, social education, community awareness, promote positive life choices and develop new life skills.
Sam brings a wealth of experience from a diverse background that includes leisure management, personal training and fitness instructing, as well as cricket coaching.
Wilf Brooke / Wicketz Development Officer
Wilf became a full-time member of the team in November 2023, joining as our Wicketz Development Officer. Wilf has been involved in the programme since February 2022, having started out as a volunteer whilst at university. He has also coached on other GCF initiatives, including the Zonal and MCC Foundation hubs.
The Wicketz programme offers free weekly cricket sessions throughout the year, and run festivals and residentials during the holidays. In his role, Wilf will be continuing to grow and deliver hubs across Bristol, which currently operate in Southmead, Knowle and Hartcliffe.
Wilf is originally from Lewisham, South East London, and first moved to Bristol to study pharmacology. After finishing his studies he quickly ditched the lab coat and spent a year teaching PE in primary schools across Bristol before joining the team. Wilf plays his cricket at Bedminster CC.
