GCU's teaming up with Cricket Scotland to transform city communities

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and Cricket Scotland are teaming up to help transform some of Glasgow’s most marginalised communities.

It is hoped that bringing cricket to Black and minority ethnic, migrant and refugee communities in Glasgow will build social cohesion and support integration. The three-year partnership will also bring cricket back to GCU and other Scots universities and generate research into, for example, how sports governing bodies can become more diverse.

Professor Valerie Webster, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, said: “As the University for the Common Good, GCU is excited to be working with Cricket Scotland on the Spirit of Cricket for the Common Good project. The project will use cricket and its values to engage with communities in North Glasgow, supporting the establishment of a grass-roots cricket club in the Springburn area.

“Our students will be mentoring young people and working towards GCU’s Common Good Award, and the project will provide opportunities to support, for example, research about how the sport can be used to promote community cohesion and integration. In addition, we are delighted that Cricket Scotland is working with our Students’ Association to re-establish cricket at GCU and in the community.”

Ammar Ashraf, Cricket Scotland’s Community Engagement Officer, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with GCU. The Spirit of Cricket for the Common Good project fits perfectly with GCU’s and Cricket Scotland’s mission to make a positive difference to the communities we serve, and is at the heart of what we both do. 

“We are already working together in the community, using cricket to bring people from all walks of life together to create social change.”

GCU has already begun recruiting a team, which joins the University’s GCU Wolves sporting community. Staff members who would like to get involved can contact GCU’s CPE Coordinator Susan Grant, Susan.grant@gcu.ac.uk