ECB and Metro Bank joins forces with Take Her Lead

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Metro Bank have announced a new partnership with Take Her Lead (THL), which is a charity working on empowering women and girls in cricket and has been founded by former English cricketer Isa Guha. The partnership will see THL support Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund through giving them access to their  network of volunteers, coaches, officials, committee members, team managers and others. THL’s Women’s Network will be expanded to support ECB’s network and will work towards providing opportunities to connect with peers, share experiences and access personal and professional development for the women’s game. 

Gemma Barton, Head of Strategic Growth at the ECB, commented,

“Women’s and girls’ cricket is experiencing incredible momentum, with more women and girls playing, volunteering and leading within the game than ever before. Sustaining that growth depends on the people behind the scenes who create welcoming, inclusive and inspiring environments in clubs and communities across England and Wales. That’s why, through the Metro Banks Girls in Cricket Fund, were delighted to partner with Take Her Lead to strengthen the networks that support volunteers, coaches, officials and leaders across the recreational game. By investing in the people who make cricket happen, we can help ensure more women and girls not only discover the sport but feel supported to stay involved and thrive within it.”

Danielle Lee, Director of Brand and Marketing at Metro Bank, said,

“Seeing more women and girls discover a love for cricket is exactly why the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund was created. We have already seen incredible growth in the number of girls teams, and we’re excited to work with Take Her Lead to help build on that momentum by supporting the people who make the game happen. Metro Bank is driven by relationships and through this partnership we want to help coaches, volunteers and others to connect, learn from one another and help create environments where women and girls can thrive in cricket.”

Mary Cahill, Head of Operations Take Her Lead, added,

“Behind every girl who falls in love with cricket is a community of people who made that moment possible. At Take Her Lead we are on a mission to enable a more inclusive culture for women and girls. We pride ourselves in creating programmes and initiatives that open doors, remove barriers, and build environments where women and girls can truly thrive. This partnership is about investing in the community that can help us achieve that ambition, when women and girls are supported on the pitch and beyond, the future becomes brighter for everyone. We look forward to welcoming a new member to the team to bring the partnership’s ambition to life.”