The Lord's Taverners
Overview
The Lord’s Taverners exists to enhance the prospects of disadvantaged and disabled young people using cricket and other forms of sport and recreation to engage with them. They envisage a future where all young people, irrespective of background and ability, have the everyday opportunity to play cricket and enjoy other sports and physical activities to the benefit of their self-esteem, health, education and future socio-economic potential.
The Lord's Taverners provide opportunities for young people, able bodied or with disabilities, under the age of 25 to participate in sport and recreation. Over the last 50 years they have given £25m away to schools, sports clubs and special needs organisations.
Charitable programmes applicable to Northern Ireland based organisations includes:
Specially Adapted Minibus
Their minibuses not only provide an essential means of getting students to and from school,but they also greatly enhance the curriculum and learning of young people, who benefit from engaging with the local community and accessing a wider range of sporting and recreational activities.
Their minibuses are often specially adapted, with features such as tail lifts or unfolding steps. These changes make a big difference, allowing young people with a disability to get on and off the bus more easily and making the transition into the passenger seats much more comfortable.
In accessing a wider range of activities and events, the minibuses play a vital role in building confidence, social skills and a sense of independence. In the longer term, this helps to better equip young people to live enjoyable, fulfilling and independent lives.
NOTE: Due to continued delays in the manufacture of new transits they are not accepting new applications. Their priority during 2023 and 2024 is to clear their current waiting list. For further information please contact them via foundation@lordstaverners.org
Sports Kit Recycling
Many young people in the UK and abroad find it hard to access sport, with one of the main barriers being a simple lack of access to the right kit and equipment. Their sports kit recycling programme collects usable kit from across the UK through a network of local ‘collection hubs’.
The kit is then sorted and redistributed to partner organisations within the UK and around the world, who can put it to great use in their communities.
The benefits of playing cricket and other sports are numerous. Having the correct kit gives more young people the opportunity to play team sport and develop crucial life skills such as teamwork, communication and confidence, alongside improving their overall health and wellbeing.
In recent years, they have sent large amounts of kit to projects in India, Germany, Antigua, Brazil, Romania, Rwanda, Uganda, The Gambia, Mexico and across the UK.
For UK deliveries, they look to work with cricket clubs or youth organisations (especially those in economically deprived areas) who wish to develop their junior sections.