The apex body of cricket in England and Wales, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), along with Take Her Lead (THL), the charity championing women and girls in cricket founded by Isa Guha, has announced a new partnership with Metro Bank, the first-ever ECB champion of women’s and girls’ cricket.
The deal has been inked to invest in the people driving the growth of women’s and girls’ recreational cricket. This collaboration will help to deliver the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund (the Fund) by expanding the network of volunteers, coaches, officials, committee members, team managers, and others who make the game possible in clubs and communities across England and Wales.
The three organisations will work together to expand opportunities for connection, learning, and collaboration, thereby contributing to the development of the workforce required to support the continued growth of the women’s and girls’ game.
The alliance will be carried out through the expansion of Take Her Lead’s Women’s Network, a community for women who work or volunteer in recreational cricket. The enhanced programme will focus on the Fund’s ‘Network’ pillar spanning 38 Recreational Cricket Boards, offering opportunities to build relationships with peers, share experiences, and access personal and professional development, all while supporting Take Her Lead’s three core program ambitions: Grow, Inspire, and Educate.
This is a historic moment for women’s cricket. A record-breaking summer, an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at home, and the first-ever women’s Test at Lord’s are inspiring more women and girls than ever to participate in cricket. Over 520,000 women and girls played the game in England and Wales this year, with a record-breaking year expected in 2025. Last year, there were over 6,000 women’s and girls’ grassroots teams, nearly doubling the number in 2022 (3,200), with a record 30,627 girls participating in the ECB’s National Programmes, All Stars, and Dynamos.
Sustaining that momentum requires not only attracting new players, but also supporting the people who work behind the scenes to create welcoming, inclusive, and thriving cricket communities.
The collaboration, which brings together the ECB and Metro Bank investments in the recreational game, Metro Bank’s long-standing dedication to women’s and girls’ cricket, and Take Her Lead’s expertise in building communities and opportunities for women and girls in sport, will help guarantee that the infrastructure supporting the game grows in tandem with participation.
A dedicated THL Women’s Network Manager is currently being sought to lead the programme. Following the appointment, more information about the program, member benefits, support options, and ways to get involved will be announced.
Mary Cahill, Head of Operations Take Her Lead, said, “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.”
Gemma Barton, Head of Strategic Growth at the ECB, said, “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.”
