The Devon Cricket Foundation has provided leadership training and opportunities to over 150 girls across the county this year. Women & Girls' Development Officer, Ann-Marie Presswell writes:

For many girls, the biggest barrier to leadership is their self-perception, seeing themselves as lacking the skills and competencies to be able to become a leader. It is therefore important that safe spaces are created for girls to explore and experiment with leadership roles and responsibilities, redefining the more traditional roles of leadership and showing them that leadership can include collaboration, listening and inclusivity.  

Sports Leadership is the perfect way to do this. In partnership with Chance to Shine, the Devon Cricket Foundation has worked in schools to deliver leadership to over 150 pupils across the county, helping girls to see that, through sport, leadership can be a choice for them and they can be role models for the future.

The Leadership Programme is a six-hour programme that works on what it is to be a good leader. It uses basic cricket skills and activities to show how an inclusive, collaborative, fun approach can also be applied to leadership.  

We have delivered 12 Leadership Programmes across the county this year. Delivering the programme to girls in a female-only environment gives them the chance to express themselves as leaders. We are consistently impressed with the mature and creative approach of the girls when taking part in the programme.

It is important that the leaders see an outcome to their learning and so we work hard to make sure that each leadership programme is linked to an event where they can then use the skills they have learnt. This academic year, over 500 pupils have taken part in an event led by a pupil who has gone through the Chance to Shine Leadership Programme in Devon.

"The girls were amazing. They kept the children entertained all afternoon and they were so enthusiastic and kind to all the children."

- Teacher at a Girls' Primary School Festival

"All the leaders were amazing. They helped us to do the activities and if we struggled, they helped us some more. My bowling got better and better thanks to their help."

- South Molton Primary School Pupil

I think the girls' primary festival had to be one of the leadership highlights of the year. We trained 14 female leaders, and they then delivered a primary festival for girls in the afternoon. Not only was it a hugely rewarding experience for the leaders, but they were fantastic role models to younger girls who are seeing females in positive leading roles.

Our Leadership Programme is open to all state-funded schools during the academic year. If your school would be interested in running a Leadership Programme, please get in touch.

We are very appreciative of the schools who took part in the programme and thank them for their support this year:  

  • Brixham College: 16 leaders delivered a festival to Brixham Primary School.
  • Holsworthy College: 25 Year 7 leaders delivered cricket sessions to Year 8 classes.
  • The King's School, Ottery St Mary: 8 leaders delivered a festival to Year 3 and Year 4 at Feniton Primary School.
  • Notre Dame School: 9 leaders with PHSG to deliver a primary school festival to 3 local primary schools.
  • Park School: 16 leaders ran a primary festival attended by 3 schools and over 100 children.
  • Pilton School: 19 leaders ran a festival for the Year 7 girls.
  • Plymouth High School for Girls: 8 leaders worked with Notre Dame to deliver a primary school festival to 3 local primary schools.
  • South Molton Academy: 15 leaders delivered a primary festival to 2 schools (140 children).
  • St Luke’s School, Exeter: 15 leaders delivering activities at local schools.
  • Torquay Academy: 25 leaders ran two intra-school festivals for Year 7 and Year 8 students.

Thank you to all those leaders who took part and helped the Devon Cricket Foundation deliver cricket to a greater audience. You are all fantastic role models!

Leadership also starts at clubs…

As has become tradition each year, we also run our annual Young Storm Champions programme which is supported by Western Storm.

Attended by 14 young women this year, these young leaders will return to their clubs to volunteer and provide positive role models for the younger female generation. 

We would like to extend our gratitude to Tavistock CC for hosting this year. It is thanks to the generosity of these clubs that we can run events such as these.

It is so important that we create a continuous cycle of female volunteer role models at clubs. Their positive influence will inspire other young women and girls to also volunteer, which only serves to sustain clubs in the future.