England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Metro Bank join forces with Take Her Lead

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Metro Bank have announced a partnership with Take Her Lead (THL), a charity founded by English former cricketer Isa Guha that works towards empowering women and girls in cricket.

The partnership will focus on the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund. By strengthening the network of volunteers, coaches, officials, committee members, team managers, and others, the three parties will work towards creating more opportunities for women and girls in the game. THL’s Women’s Network will support the fund across 38 Recreational Cricket Boards. 

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.”