AFTER a successful launch last season over an eight-week period, mixed ability cricket has made a cracking start to their second year in Bradford, with over 40 participants of varying ages and abilities attending a session at Baildon Cricket Club earlier this month.

The partnership between national disability charity United Response, Baildon Cricket Club and International Mixed Ability Sport (IMAS) has reunited, helping people with and without disabilities come together.

This partnership brings together the aims of the IMAS mixed ability manifesto and United Response’s ‘Big Plan’ - a long-term vision to create more united communities, resulting in opportunities for disabled people to take part and make choices and friends in their neighbourhoods.

All the players are challenged, but are able to achieve a successful outcome by working as a team.

Obaid Malik, returning from last year, said: “Everyone joined in, we had a great time and I hit three sixes!”

Louise Richardson, service manager at United Response in Bradford, has been instrumental in creating this opportunity, and explained why it was so important: “With everyone participating in the sessions, it’s a great chance to see what the staff get out of it too.

“It reinforces our ethos of ‘doing with’ rather than ‘doing for’. It’s an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.”

The sessions, which are varied and have an emphasis on fun, are tailored to the players’ needs, and players and coaches from Baildon CC, including Darren Wilson and James Butterfield, involved friends and family members in the warm-up and games as the new season resumed.

Director of Cricket Wilson said: “We share the site with Baildon Rugby Club, and I had seen their mixed ability team, the Bumble Bees.

“I got talking to some of those guys and thought maybe we could do the same in cricket.

“When Lou came along and proposed that we could run some summer sessions, the idea just snowballed. I’m really proud of the way the club members enthusiastically got on board.”

IMAS co-founder Mark Goodwin said: “Mixed ability sports sessions are different from the tradition of a separate disability sports offer, so people with disabilities are coming to play cricket but they’re playing alongside and with members of the cricket club, volunteers, staff and personal assistants.

“This changes the traditional status quo of ‘support worker’ and ‘supported person’ - they become team-mates.

“What’s happening at Baildon CC is nothing short of revolutionary. It’s a great partnership between our organisations, and I look forward to building on that.”

Anyone interested in getting involved is welcome, with sessions running on a Tuesday evening until the end of August.

No equipment or experience is necessary, and further information is available from Louise Richardson on 07583-247118 or Louise.Richardson@unitedresponse.org.uk