Hampshire Cricket Partners With GOAT Boys Mentoring Programme

Hampshire Cricket is proud to support the GOAT Boys mentoring programme, an initiative aimed at providing positive male role models for young people in our community.

The programme addresses challenges highlighted in the Centre for Social Justice's "Lost Boys" report, which found that young men across the UK are increasingly isolated and lacking in positive mentorship.

The importance of male mentorship was recently highlighted by former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate in his Richard Dimbleby Lecture. Southgate stated: "Too many young men are isolated, too many feel uncomfortable opening up to friends or family. Many don't have mentors, teachers, coaches, bosses who understand how best to push them to grow."

The GOAT Boys programme - which stands for Growth, Ownership, Attitude and Tenacity - aims to fill this gap. Led by a board including Chris Edwards (Headteacher at Brighton Hill Community School), Pete Beeching (Deputy Headteacher at Brighton Hill Community School), Detective Superintendent Kevin Brown (Head of Major Crime, Thames Valley Police), Sky News Home Editor Jason Farrell, and other community leaders, the initiative officially launches on 29th January.

Mentors will be paired with students to begin a six-month collaboration, working on projects designed to raise money for charity or improve their local communities.

Supporting Young People Across Hampshire

Hampshire is the first county to roll out the programme, launching at Brighton Hill Community School in Basingstoke. Two other Hampshire schools have already signed up for Wave 2 in March when the initiative goes national. Several Hampshire Cricket coaches have already committed to becoming mentors through the club's Regional Performance Centre coaching force.

Brighton Hill School has been a valued partner of Hampshire Cricket for several years, serving as a venue for the Hawks Academy in Basingstoke and supporting various cricket development projects across the region.

Members of the Hampshire Cricket community who would like to become mentors are encouraged to sign up through the GOAT Boys programme. Whether you're a player, coach, staff member or supporter, your experience and guidance could make a meaningful difference to a young person's life.

For more information about the programme and to register your interest in becoming a mentor, visit the GOAT Boys sign-up page.