Two organisations are partnering to champion pathways for girls in sport and industry.
Connect It Utility Services and Hampshire Cricket are collaborating as they both mark their 25th anniversary by supporting opportunities for girls and women in professional sport and other traditionally male-dominated sectors, including construction.
The partnership aims to strengthen grassroots girls’ cricket in Hampshire while also highlighting career options for women in fields such as engineering and utilities.
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Rob Paddon, commercial director at Hampshire Cricket, said: "We are passionate about creating opportunities for young people to get involved in cricket and to see a pathway into the professional game.
"Working with Connect It Utility Services to support grassroots girls’ cricket is a fantastic way to celebrate our shared anniversary year while investing in the future of the sport.
"The growth of the women’s game is incredibly exciting, and it’s important that young players can meet and learn from female role models already competing at the highest level."
As part of the initiative, the two organisations recently supported Paulton’s Cricket Club, which has seen significant growth in its girls’ and ladies’ cricket sections in recent years.
Young players from the club were surprised with a special coaching evening featuring Serena Vincent, the UK’s leading female shot putter.
She led a Team GB-style warm-up session and shared insights into her journey in professional sport, highlighting the dedication and challenges involved.
The players were then joined by Poppy Tulloch, Ella McCaughan and AJ Wellington from the Hampshire Cricket women’s team.
Vincent said: "It was brilliant to meet the girls at Paulton’s Cricket Club and hopefully show them that with hard work, resilience and confidence, there are so many opportunities available to them in sport."
The event also included a training session with Hampshire Cricket women’s team members Poppy Tulloch, Ella McCaughan, and AJ Wellington.
The girls were later invited to Hampshire Cricket’s 25th anniversary celebrations at the Utilita Bowl on Friday, May 29, where they formed a guard of honour, took part in the coin toss and enjoyed a Vitality Blast T20 double-header in a festival atmosphere.
Laban Giles, managing director at Connect It Utility Services, said: "As two organisations celebrating 25 years, this partnership is about much more than cricket.
"It’s about showing young women the opportunities available to them, whether that’s in professional sport, construction, utilities or engineering.
"We want to help inspire confidence, ambition and belief at a grassroots level, and Paulton’s Cricket Club is doing an incredible job creating opportunities for girls within the local community."
