THE Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF) are on the way to fulfilling a major project which, if it comes off, will involve volunteers from Bradford and Leeds.

The YCF have received initial support of £32,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for Yorkshire's Cricket Heritage: A Lasting Legacy project.

The project, made available by National Lottery layers, aims to protect and celebrate Yorkshire's cricketing heritage, and the YCF can now make an application to unlock further funding of £235,800 to deliver the project.

This volunteer-focused project will partner amateur clubs and leagues in four areas – starting with Leeds and then involving Bradford, Scarborough and Sheffield.

Participants will be trained in heritage preservation and access techniques, while raising the profile of league, women's and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) cricket.

The benefits are: facilitating social inclusion; benefiting and inspiring a wide range of people; strengthening community relationships and identities; informing activities for people living with dementia, depression and loneliness and generating education resources which connect cricket and social history.

Additional plusses are creating legacies of increased resources, skills, knowledge, interest, pride and resilience.

The project will help clubs to understand, safeguard and celebrate their heritage. It is anticipated that, following success with the selected areas, the project will eventually be rolled out county-wide.

YCF heritage manager Paul Goodman said: "We're absolutely delighted that Yorkshire Cricket Foundation has received this support, and we thank all those who have played, and continue to play, the National Lottery.

"The Foundation is committed to protecting, preserving and promoting Yorkshire's rich cricketing heritage, and this award will enable us to engage with the community and maximise the opportunities for involvement and participation, giving us a leading sporting heritage offer."

Will Saville, head of the YCF, added: "This is absolutely fantastic news for Yorkshire cricket heritage and the Foundation's community work as a charity.

"As the Yorkshire County Cricket Club's official charity, we aim to use the power of Yorkshire cricket's rich history and heritage to support our education, health and wellbeing and participation programmes.

"The funding provided by Heritage Lottery Fund will enable us to do this in a far more impactful way and with greater reach than ever before."