Worcestershire Women's Rapids team are proud to have acquired the support of Heart of Worcestershire College as their main sponsor for the 2017 campaign.
HOW College will be sponsoring the Worcestershire 50 over and 20 over sides which compete in the Royal London One-Day Championship and NatWest County T20 competitions.
But they will also provide financial backing to enable the women first team members to spread the word about the already flourishing women's cricket via coaching in schools across the county.
In the past two years there has been a 300 per cent growth in women's and girl’s cricket throughout Worcestershire.
HOW College is based in Deansway, Worcester and was formerly known as Worcester College of Technology.
Nicki Williams, Vice Principal of Heart of Worcestershire College, said: “We’re delighted to support the Women’s Rapids this season.
"As a College we’re passionate about providing positive opportunities for young people. Worcestershire Cricket Board has this same belief and they are extremely proactive in supporting participation in sports.
"We wish the Rapid’s every success in forthcoming matches.”
Worcestershire Cricket Board Limited Cricket Development Director Tom Hill is delighted with the tie-up with HOW College.
He said: "We have been fortunate in securing the support of the Heart of Worcestershire College who are our main sponsor for our Women's Rapids team this year. It is fantastic news for women’s cricket across the county.
"As part of the agreement, they are also funding some of our girls to go out and undertake visits to schools.
"It's not just about raising the profile of women's sport but actually activating it and getting more girls out there talking about cricket and playing the game. They will go out and coach across the summer.
"We've had 300% growth in Worcestershire of women and girls cricket during the past two years.
"This summer is probably going to be the biggest and best for women's sport and in cricket we've got the Women's World Cup this year, the Kia Super League is going to be on television.
"What we are doing on the back of the growth of our women's cricket team, we are really positioning them as real ambassadors for the game locally to try and engage and encourage more girls and women to see cricket as an option for them, to make it their game."
Hill revealed that the Worcestershire Women's Rapids will be in action at New Road on August 13 as part of a double header.
The men's team take on Notts Outlaws in the NatWest T20 Blast and that will be followed by the women's County T20 fixture between the counties.
Hill said: "The real excitement for us is we are going to be able to showcase the women's game in a double T20 header on August 13.
"There will be a men's T20 game against Notts Outlaws at New Road followed by a women's T20 thereafter.
"It will be great experience for the team to play in front of a big crowd and we are encouraging Worcestershire supporters to stay on and support the team after the men's game."
