One Year of Cricket at Gateshead OPA

When we started delivering cricket at the Gateshead Older People Assembly at the start of summer 2022, it was just a six-week pilot. People loved it so much that it was extended to the whole summer, and then for one whole year!

We have already delivered sixteen sessions at Gateshead and have engaged with more than thirty unique individuals! It wasn't just cricket at Gateshead though, we had the opportunity to take them all the South Shields beach to play some beach cricket - the first time in most of our clients' lives! Sun, beach, cricket, what else do you want?!

The stories from GOPA are incredible, from the 85-year-old John to Margarette who steals a bat back every week to practice at home, cricket has made their lives happy! What about Polly and Iris - best friends - who became unlikely cricketers after hating the game all their lives?! 

Not content with just playing the game, they have also taken up coaching sessions at the start of the event! Team England, they are coming!