Glamorgan CCC and Cricket Wales are delighted to be part of a Sporting Memories Network which has recently received a sizeable grant through a partnership with Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Public Health Wales.
The Network has received a grant of £400,000 to support the aim of improving mental and physical health and reducing social isolation by enabling the adoption of healthy and active lifestyles across Wales. The award of the grant will support the development of Sporting Memories weekly reminiscence and physical activity sessions throughout Wales. In addition to Glamorgan County Cricket Club and Cricket Wales, the partnership includes the Cardiff City FC Foundation; the College of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University; Derwen Housing Association, Ospreys in the Community, Sporting Memories Network CIC, Swansea Council, Vi-Ability and The Pollen Shop.
The Sporting Memories Network are also working closely with Ageing Well in Wales to ensure the project has a lasting impact and reach on the lives and well-being of older people. Ageing Well in Wales is a national partnership programme hosted by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales which brings together individuals and communities with public, private, third and voluntary sectors to make Wales the best place in the world to grow older.
With this in mind, Glamorgan CCC – who are the only professional cricket club in Wales – are in the process of setting up Memory Clubs within Newport and Cardiff. Anyone interested in taking part in these activities or finding out further information about the Memory Clubs should send an email to museum@glamorgancricket.co.uk or ring 02920 419383 during normal office hours.
“We are looking forward to playing a key role in this exciting project and helping to improve the well-being of older people, “ commented Andrew Hignell, the Archivist of Glamorgan CCC. “With an ageing population in the Cardiff area, a growing collection of cricket-related objects and memorabilia at the Club’s headquarters in Sophia Gardens, plus outstanding facilities here at the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket, we are in a position to make a major impact in this project.”
Tony Jameson-Allen, Co-founder of Sporting Memories Network said: “Sporting Memories, uses sports reminiscence to engage isolated older people living with conditions such as dementia, loneliness and depression. Our Club members, who meet on a weekly basis in locations across England and Scotland, are brought together through a shared love of sport and improve their mental and physical well-being as well as having fun and making new friends We are looking forward to working with Glamorgan County Cricket Club and our partners to deliver the project and grow Sporting Memories across Wales”