Trowbridge Primary School from Cardiff were the winners yesterday of the inaugural Jo Cox Trophy – an innovative partnership between Glamorgan County Cricket Club, the Jo Cox Foundation as well as Cardiff Council’s Community Cohesion team, South Wales Police and the More in Common Partnership involving a group of Primary Schools in Cardiff and Llantwit Major.
The partnership has seen the pupils from six primary schools learn about the concept of Global Family of Cricket, create display material around these themes and play in a softball cricket tournament at the headquarters of Glamorgan Cricket for a trophy named in memory of the late Jo Cox MP who held, so dear, these values of diverse people coming together.
On a day of high excitement and plenty of excellent cricket, Trowbridge Primary School won their group matches before beating their neighbours Greenway Primary School in the semi-final and then defeating Ysgol Dewi Sant from Llantwit Major in the final of the indoor tournament before being presented with the inaugural Jo Cox Trophy at a special ceremony, also attended by VIPs and others from Cardiff Council, the Jo Cox Foundation, the Council`s Community Cohesion team, South Wales Police and the More in Common Partnership, plus other specially invited guests. Also taking part in the competition were Gabalfa Primary School and Hywel Dda Primary School in Cardiff, plus St. Illtyd’s Primary School from Llantwit Major.
“We are thrilled to have been the winners of the inaugural Jo Cox Trophy,” said Mrs. Alison Thomas from Trowbridge Primary School. “Our pupils have really enjoyed learning about the themes of `More in Common` and `The Global Family of Cricket`. They have also developed their cricketing skills, especially playing as a team and we look forward to defending our title in next year’s tournament for the Jo Cox Trophy!”
“The softball cricket matches were a great way to round off the Project,” said Andrew Hignell, the Heritage and Education Co-ordinator at Glamorgan Cricket. “The children from all of the participating schools deserve warmest congratulations for their outstanding efforts throughout, as well as playing the games in the right spirit in the tournament. Glamorgan Cricket currently engages with 91% of schools in the Cardiff area and we look forward to inviting another batch of primary schools for next year’s tournament, as well as continuing over the coming months our activities with the More in Common Partnership and the Jo Cox Foundation.”
In a specially pre-recorded message to all of the participants, Kim Leadbeater, the MP for Batley and Spen said, “Me and my whole family are so proud and grateful that you have dedicated so much of your time in my late sister’s memory. To all of the children and teachers from the six schools, thank you for all of your work in getting ready for the tournament and competing today. My thanks as well to Glamorgan County Cricket Club for hosting this fantastic event and well done to everyone for taking part.”
The Jo Cox Foundation makes meaningful change on issues that the late Jo Cox MP was passionate about. The charity works in three areas: nurturing stronger communities, championing respect in politics and advocating for a fairer world. Underpinning this work is the understanding that we have more in common than that which divides us.
The display material which all of the schools have been created will be on display in the CC4 Museum of Welsh Cricket at the Sophia Gardens ground, as well as shortly being on the Museum’s website - https://www.cricketmuseum.wales/our-work-with-schools/