Youth at the Heart of Cricketqube: How Young People Shape What We Do

At Cricketqube, we’ve always believed that young people are not just participants in our programmes — they are co-creators, leaders, and voices of change. From shaping the design of our sessions to stepping up as volunteers and mentors, young people play a central role in guiding how we grow and deliver cricket for communities across the North East.

Listening to Young Voices in Family Cricket

When we launched our Family Cricket project, we expected parents to lead the way in co-developing the programme. But it didn’t take long for young people to speak up too. At our workshops, teenagers told us they wanted more than fun drills — they wanted “proper matches” and challenges that felt real. That feedback reshaped our sessions, with short-format games now a central part of the programme.

Thirteen-year-old Mohib, one of our earliest participants, has since become a volunteer and youth leader. He helps with set-up, supports younger players, and tells us what works and what doesn’t. His feedback keeps our activities fresh and inclusive, balancing the needs of both older teens and young children.

We’ve also seen young people like Sarah become informal advisors, highlighting the importance of visible role models for girls, and ensuring sessions are fun and engaging. Their voices remind us that youth feedback is not a one-off exercise, but an ongoing conversation.

As one parent said:
“My daughter loves this cricket session. We come almost every week, and it helps us avoid parks around the area where there is always anti-social behaviour. I think there should be more classes like this.”

That sense of belonging comes from listening to young people and adapting to what they want and need.

Beyond Family Cricket: Youth Involvement Everywhere

While Family Cricket has been a flagship for youth voice, it’s not the only place where young people influence our work. Across our youth programmes in Central Newcastle, Teams, Blakelaw, Byker, and Wallsend, teenagers help shape sessions week after week.

• In holiday camps, young people told us they wanted more variety, so we added creative and social activities alongside cricket.

• In evening youth sessions, they asked for leadership opportunities — we responded by creating volunteer and assistant coach roles. One of our current youth volunteers first came as a participant.

• In inclusive sessions, young people with SEND have guided us on what works best for them, leading us to adapt group sizes and simplify activities to keep them engaging and accessible.

These changes might sound small, but they make a big difference. They show young people that their opinions matter, and in return, they take ownership of the programmes, building confidence and leadership skills along the way.

Building Future Leaders

For us, youth involvement isn’t just about shaping today’s sessions. It’s about building tomorrow’s leaders. We’ve already seen teenagers move from participants to volunteers, and from volunteers into coaching pathways. By investing in their voices and their development, we’re laying the foundations for sustainable, community-led cricket in the future.

One young person said, “I love it. I brought my best friend with her and I like playing in teams and getting better in hitting the cricket ball.”

We’re now exploring ways to formalise this further through a youth advisory group, giving young people a direct say in the organisation’s future direction. Combined with our open-access approach, this ensures Cricketqube remains a place where young people not only feel safe and welcome but also valued and empowered.

Why It Matters

Young people today face challenges ranging from a lack of safe spaces to increasing community tensions. By involving them directly in decision-making, we give them ownership, responsibility, and pride. They are not just filling time — they are helping shape safer, stronger, and more connected communities.

At Cricketqube, youth voice isn’t an add-on. It’s at the core of who we are. And as Mohib, Sarah and so many others remind us each week, when you give young people space to lead, everyone benefits.