St Mary’s firefighters formed a strong partnership with the Wicketz community cricket programme to welcome a group of local 8-19 year old boys and girls to the station.
The fire engines were moved to the drill yard as the group were split into teams that would rotate between playing matches, trying out the hoses, touring the station and learning vital fire safety advice from the crews.
Play had to be halted at one stage, not due to rain, but because the on-duty firefighters had to respond to a real-life emergency!
St Mary’s station manager, Nev Lewendon said:
“Delivering key safety messages is an important part of our role as firefighters.
“By working with the Wicketz programme and inviting them into the station, we are able to reach our young community, teach them the importance of fire safety and showcase the role of the fire service.
“It’s great that we can do all of this at the same time as they enjoy the sport they are passionate about in a new and different environment.”
England Academy and Southern Brave star Lauren Bell took some time away from her preparations for The Hundred competition, to join in with the activities and even bowled a couple of overs.
The Wicketz programme is funded by the Lord’s Taverners charity, and works in association with the Hampshire Cricket Board, to target areas of deprivation, high population and urban communities to provide youngsters with weekly cricket opportunities, alongside themed life-skill workshops designed to help young people gain understanding, qualifications and improve their lives.
The Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, supports a number of different community programmes including Wicketz which now has 17 different centres across the country, including the Ageas Bowl-based Southampton programme, headed up by Development Officer Sam Moss:
“Bringing the community together is exactly what Wicketz does, there’s people from loads of different backgrounds here and just playing in an area like this, using the fire station which is so unique.
“This has given us a great opportunity to have a fire safety talk and really try and make an impact on these young people today.”
