MCC helps Prince's Trust celebrate

Date released: 19 December 2008

The Prince's Trust 'graduates' celebrate at Lord's Ten young people from London celebrated completing a Prince's Trust course to improve their job prospects with a party at Lord's.

The celebration event, hosted by Marylebone Cricket Club, marks the completion of a 12-week personal development programme delivered by City of Westminster College.

Youth charity, The Prince's Trust, works with MCC and 14 of the First Class County Cricket Clubs to help unemployed 16 to 25-year-olds gain nationally recognised qualifications, improve their motivation and self confidence and develop team working skills.

Around 2,000 young people have benefited from the initiative nationwide, with two in three participants getting a job or going into further training or education.

The initiative is supported by MCC, the Professional Cricketers Association, England & Wales Cricket Board, Lord’s Taverners and Chance to Shine.

Tour & coaching

The support provided by MCC included a tour of Lord’s at the start of the course to engage participants and show them how a world-famous venue operates.

Over the following twelve weeks, the young people took part in numerous coaching sessions delivered by former MCC young cricketers Paul Smith (also of Warwickshire CCC) and Paul Atherley. This culminated in the Team delivering their own coaching session to a group of Prince’s Trust staff.

One member of the Team, Shabaz Shabaal, had previously been long term unemployed. Following the completion of a week’s work experience with the Estates Department at MCC he has been offered the chance to return to Lord’s for further work experience in the summer.

Shabaz also took part in a mock interview delivered by MCC Secretary & Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw.

Keith Bradshaw said: "Lord’s Cricket Ground is a big part of the local community and MCC strives to use our world-class facilities and resources to help support some of the hardest to reach young people in Westminster.

"This scheme makes a positive impact upon those who may have not had these opportunities before in their life."

Nick Smith, Head of Sport Development at The Prince’s Trust, said: "We are extremely grateful for the support that MCC have provided and it makes such a difference to our young people. We look forward to working even more closely with MCC over the coming years."

This is the second Team to be officially supported by MCC and it forms part of a wider partnership for how the world’s most active cricket club will be helping to change the lives of the hardest to reach young people in the UK.