Irwin Mitchell Show Continued Commitment To Inclusive Sport

The Southampton office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell are showing their continued commitment to making sport more accessible for disabled people by becoming sponsors of the Hampshire Cricket Board’s (HCB) Disability Programme.

HCB’s trailblazing disability cricket programme, which has been running since 2000, reaches over 1300 participants each year, from grassroots to elite settings.

Irwin Mitchell’s support of the programme will help provide coaching and tournaments to over 20 of Hampshire’s 36 special schools and offer six week free introductions to cricket for disability groups in day centres, multi sport clubs and adult services groups.

There is also a winter training programme (hardball and softball) for county squads and an elite player development programme.

Four Hampshire players, Alex Hammond, Hugo Hammond, Dan Reynaldo & Josh Mead have already progressed via the programme to full international level with the England Physical Disability squad, with Will Flynn involved with the England Lions.

The law firm and the HCB have been co-ordinating with local schools to help put on a Table Cricket Tournament on 10 February at the Ageas Bowl, offering disabled pupils a chance to try the sport.

The firm’s support comes as part of Irwin Mitchell’s campaign Don’t Quit, Do It, which aims to make sport more inclusive and encourage more people to get involved with disability sport.

The campaign was launched by the firm in 2015 in recognition of the rehabilitative physical and psychological benefits that sport can provide for those who have suffered life changing injuries.

Irwin Mitchell also sponsors Hampshire Harriers wheelchair basketball club based in Weston and Portsmouth Amputee FC, as well as many other clubs around the UK.

Expert Opinion

From the work we do, we see the positive impact that taking part in disability and inclusive sport can have for people who have suffered life changing injuries.

We’re already actively trying to support disability sports clubs in the region and are honoured to be able add the HCB disability programme to that list. We hope that our support will enable more people the chance to get involved with inclusive cricket.
Guy Darlaston - Partner

Mike Pollard, Cricket Development Manager, for HCB, who are based at Ageas Bowl, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Irwin Mitchell has decided to sponsor our very successful programme, which is already recognised as one of the best in England & Wales. With Irwin Mitchell’s support we hope to be able to reach even more participants and expand opportunities further to people with disabilities.”

If you’d like to find out more you can contact Mike Pollard.