Photo - Izzy second from left

We are so proud to announce that BGS alumna, Izzy Gurney (2017), along with her colleagues at the MCC and the MCC Foundation, won the Tessa Jowell Community Award at the Sport Industry Group Awards for their Afghan Refugee Project.

Launched in August 2021 following the Afghan refugee crisis, the MCC and MCC Foundation began inviting up to 60 refugees that were housed in a local bridging hotel to Lord’s each week for cricket, English tutoring, creche facilities and a traditional Afghan meal. For the cricketing sessions, sports clothing was provided with nets divided separately for men, women and children, and Afghan coaches with interpreting skills (who were former refugees themselves) were on hand to welcome all players. The project has been a great success and shows the power sport has, bringing hope, joy and a community together. Read more about the MCC Foundation and project here.

We spoke to Izzy about the project, she said: “The project was an eye-opening experience for all that were fortunate enough to work closely week-on-week with the refugees, who arrived from Afghanistan feeling uprooted after being forced to flee their country and everything they know. It was deeply rewarding to see happy faces, to hear laughter and to witness some very skilful cricket. The project became a highlight in the participants’ weekly schedules (and my own!), providing families and individuals with an opportunity to socialise and learn new skills in a stimulating environment.”

A talented cricketer and ECB Level 2 coach, Izzy is currently the Operations Coordinator at the MCC Foundation, which is the charitable arm of Marylebone Cricket Club. Her role involved coordinating the day-to-day running of the project, including assigning roles to all personnel involved, acquiring necessary resources such as sports clothing, English books and toys for the creche, organising the logistics each week with the bridging hotel, transport and Lord’s. Izzy also coached women that wanted to play cricket, making sure that there was a separate safe space for them to enjoy playing the game.

An incredible global community project which demonstrates how BGS alumnae are really making a difference to the world around them.