The Lord Taverners Super 1s Participants from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire met for the 1st time at Seat Unique County Ground in Bristol on February 25th for an afternoon of cricket.
The participants had travelled from Forest of Dean, Cheltenham, Stroud and Frenchay hubs in Gloucestershire and Swindon, Chippenham and Salisbury Hubs in Wiltshire to join together for an afternoon. All were looking forward to the festival and many were excited to get involved with the activities.
On the day, the Super 1s practiced their cricket skills in the Sports Hall, attended 2 short workshops and went on a tour of the professional players changing rooms and associated areas. The life skills workshops were on healthy food, where they sorted food into categories and recycling where they made a bat from recycled materials. At the end of the afternoon all the Super 1s joined together for a quick game.
Gloucestershire Super 1s Programme Workshop
During the afternoon, many of the Super 1s made new friends, practiced their cricket skills and the parents expressed how much fun they had throughout the day:
“Fantastic to watch X joining in the activities today. 2 years ago, he could not have done this due to his lack of understanding, so what an achievement! He has really enjoyed the games and looking about the amazing grounds! Thank you for a wonderful opportunity for him.
A really good idea to get everyone together and see the ground. A good afternoon out.
It was an amazing afternoon. X had a great time. The tour was fab. Very well organised. Everyone did Fantastic!”
Disability Development Officer, Jeanette Tate said:
It was brilliant to be able to host the Lord Taverners Super 1s from Gloucestershire and Wiltshire at Seat Unique County Ground. By bringing 31 Super 1s together, the participants felt part of something bigger than their hub and it gave them the opportunity to practice their cricket skills whilst making new friends.
It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces on the day and I hope we will be able to host again next year.
Thank you to Gloucestershire County Cricket Club for hosting us on the day, and for giving out mini bats as souvenirs at the end. Many of which will be treasured as a memento of the day.
Thank you also to Harry Mattingley from Wiltshire Cricket and the coaches and volunteers involved on the day for their support.
For more information on how you can get involved in the Super1s Programme, which takes place at hubs spread across the Gloucestershire, please click here.