Girlguiding Cymru Event Inspires Over 250 Girls at Sophia Gardens

There was something special in the air at Sophia Gardens this week – sunshine, laughter, cartwheels and, for many, their very first taste of cricket.

More than 250 girls from across the region came together for the fourth annual Girlguiding Cymru event, and it felt like much more than just a fun evening. It was another step forward in helping to revolutionise the girls’ game in Wales.

The event brought together staff, volunteers, and partners, all working side by side to create a welcoming space where girls could try something new without pressure. For plenty of those there, it was their first time holding a bat or bowling a ball – and that made the smiles even bigger.

The focus throughout the evening was simple: have fun, feel included and build confidence. From basic cricket activities to team challenges, the energy never dipped. Sophia Gardens was full of noise and encouragement – exactly what grassroots cricket should look and feel like.

Carl Holding, Women and Girls Lead, said:… “Seeing over 250 girls enjoying cricket together at Sophia Gardens was incredibly special. Events like this really show what’s possible when organisations, staff, volunteers and communities come together with a shared purpose.

What stood out most was the energy and the smiles, especially from girls experiencing cricket for the first time. Moments like that are what it’s all about.

I’m also really proud of the work behind the scenes – our staff and volunteers made something genuinely memorable. It’s a great example of how we’re bringing our values of Together, Lead and Care to life, and we’re excited to keep creating more opportunities for girls right across Wales.”

In the lead up to the event, Cricket Wales also visited Radyr Comprehensive School alongside the Women’s World Cup trophy, helping build excitement and create further exposure for the women and girls’ game.

The visit gave pupils at Radyr the opportunity to see the trophy up close, take photos, and engage with cricket in a memorable and inspiring way ahead of the Sophia Gardens event.

Beth Willis of Radyr Comprehensive, said…. “Moments like these help bring the game to life for young people and continue to raise the profile of women’s cricket across Wales. “Were extremely grateful of Cricket Wales’ support in growing the game and celebrating our students’ achievements”

This event was made possible through the strong partnership between Cricket Wales, Glamorgan’s Community Team and Girlguiding Cymru  a collaboration that continues to open doors and break down barriers for young girls entering the game.

A real highlight was having Glamorgan players Eve Jackson,Tom Norton and Alex Horton at the event, inspiring the girls to dream big and showing them what’s possible within the game — with hopes that one day they could return to Sophia Gardens playing professional cricket themselves.

Living the values… Events like this show what those values really mean in practice:

• Together – creating opportunities for more girls to try cricket
• Lead – helping build confidence in new environments
• Care – making sure every girl feels welcomed, supported and included

Looking ahead

With over 250 girls taking part, the impact of the evening won’t stop at Sophia Gardens.

For many, this was just the beginning. The next step could be school’s cricket, a local club, or programmes like All Stars and Dynamos Cricket.

More importantly, nights like this are helping to reshape what cricket looks like in Wales, opening it up, making it accessible, and showing young girls that the game is very much for them. Criced, A Sport For All.

Cricket Wales remains committed to growing the women and girls’ game – and with evenings like this, that future is looking bright.