It was fantastic to be at the Super 1s Awards evening last week (4 October), where participants of the Super 1s programme were presented with Inspire awards by England women’s all-rounder Emma Lamb and Captain of the England visually impaired team, Ed Hossell.
The event recognises young people with a disability for their achievements and personal development in Super 1s over the previous year.
Award winners on the night for their achievements and contributions to the programme were Surrey Super 1s participant Imogen Parkes and her mum Steph, Abdul Qasim (Buckinghamshire) and Lucy Hunter (Oxfordshire). All of them have an incredible story to tell - they’ve overcome challenges they did not think were possible before discovering, or engaging with, Super 1s. But now, their family and friends are witnessing them using their improved confidence and life skills in all aspects of life, as they look to a positive future.
Inspire award winner, Imogen said:
"I'm grateful to receive this award and hope to continue inspiring girls to play cricket and help to remove the barrier that is stopping girls from wanting to play in any way that I can."
Her mum Steph, who became the first parent to win a Super 1s Inspire Award for everything she’s done for her daughter and through her role as an assistant coach at the Surrey Super 1s project, added:
“I'm honoured to receive this award and want to share it with every Super 1s parent across the country. This is for all the parents who dedicate so much time and effort supporting their children who live with a disability whether it be through moral support, endless travelling to ensure they get to enjoy the best possible experiences and spend their time sitting on the boundary line for hours on end cheering and supporting the whole team. Every parent has their own inspirational story to tell and are an inspiration themselves."
There was also an additional award winner on the night from the Lord’s Taverners Wicketz programme. Hamza, who participates in the Southampton Wicketz project, was recognised for his personal development and contribution to a combined Super 1s and Wicketz residential at Arundel Castle this year, which saw him run adapted cricket sessions for Super 1s participants and showcase the importance of learning about the challenges others may face.
Piers Clanford, Chairman of the Berkeley Foundation, commented: “It’s fantastic to celebrate the Super 1s Inspire Awards winners this evening. These young people are a real inspiration, and it’s great to see their achievements recognised.
“Super 1s is a result of our organisations’ shared values - a commitment to empowerment, and a belief in the potential of every young person. Over 11 years, we’ve seen a generation of young participants grow up into fully fledged adults, some of them now Super 1s coaches themselves. The programme is a testament to the power of partnerships and teamwork, and we look forward to seeing it continue to grow.”
Chief Executive of the Lord’s Taverners, Mark Curtin, added: “What we’ve witnessed once again tonight is the incredible impact our Super 1s programme continues to have on young people with a disability and their families. There’s nothing quite like sport for providing young people with the tools to tackle everything that life has to offer and those who have been deservedly recognised this evening have shown what they can achieve if given the opportunity to participate in a high-quality programme in a safe and inclusive community environment.
“On behalf of the charity, I’d like to thank the Berkeley Foundation for their continued support of the Super 1s programme. Our partnership with them and others, most notably the England & Wales Cricket Board, has been absolutely vital for over 11 years now, in ensuring we continue having a positive impact on so many participants and their families by empowering them through cricket to fulfil their potential.”
Each of the award winners had their own film shown on the night which illustrates each of the participants stories, and these can all be viewed via the below links:
Imogen and Steph
Abdul
Lucy
Hamza
Super 1s is delivered by our Strategic Partner Lord’s Taverners, and funded by Berkeley Foundation alongside the ECB, Sport England and the People’s Post Code Lottery.