Islamic Relief and England & Wales Cricket Board partner to support disadvantaged youth and engage diverse communities

13 April 2023

Islamic Relief and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) came together to celebrate their new partnership at Lord’s Cricket Ground during Ramadan this week, as guests broke their fast in the Long Room.

An audience of nearly 200 guests attended the iftar, marking the beginning of a partnership that will see Islamic Relief and the ECB working together in the UK and Pakistan to support disadvantaged communities, and use the power of cricket to engage young people and women from a range of backgrounds.

The first stage of the partnership will see Islamic Relief and the ECB working together to deliver activity at schools in five UK cities; expand the Dream Big Desi Women programme to bring more South Asian female volunteers into cricket; and explore fundraising opportunities outside of Ramadan.

In the longer term, the partnership could be extended to County Cricket organisations across England and Wales, and deployed further to enhance cricket’s social impact throughout the country.

Tufail Hussain, Islamic Relief UK Director, said:

Cricket is a powerful tool to empower young people and women in the UK and in Pakistan. It will offer many disadvantaged communities an opportunity to seek out new ambitions and hopes for their future. We look forward to working with ECB and the success of this partnership.

Nick Pryde, ECB Director of Participation and Growth, said:

We’re very proud and excited to partner with Islamic Relief, an organisation that is committed to helping us connect communities and improve lives through cricket. We believe that the partnership represents an important opportunity to broaden our reach within faith-based groups, with a view of building relationships with other national partners. It is a partnership that helps our game become more inclusive and more reflective of the diverse communities within cricket.

ENDS

Notes to editors

For any questions or to request to interview one of our spokespeople, please contact:

Shazia Arshad

[email protected]

07710 389316‌

About Islamic Relief UK

Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.

Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.

About England and Wales Cricket Board

The ECB runs successful England teams, oversees domestic and recreational cricket, and runs participation programmes that get children active and playing cricket. Through cricket we want to improve lives and connect communities.

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