The LCCC Foundation is proud to announce the formation of a new partnership with Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB), to help develop and deliver an anti-female genital mutilation (FGM) and female empowerment programme using cricket as the medium to engage and educate.

The partnership will see LCCC Foundation staff supporting a team of CWB volunteers who will travel to Kenya in June and work with schools and communities to help raise awareness and understanding of this key cultural issue. This will build and expand on the successful work carried out by CWB in February 2015 in partnership with 28 Too Many and the Masaii Cricket Warriors, delivering an anti-FGM cricket programme to the Masaii community in Laikipia Kenya.

In addition LCCC Foundation and CWB will work with identified school and community groups in Trafford to provide cricket coaching sessions and training to empower those affected to speak out and seek help.

Sandy Mitchell, Head of Community Development of LCCC Foundation said: "We are delighted to be able to announce this new partnership with Cricket Without Boundaries. By helping to fund the development and delivery of the new anti-FGM project, both in Kenya and closer to home in targeted communities of Trafford, we will be able to combine our expertise using cricket as a vehicle to make a real difference to the lives of young females identified as at risk".

Hannah Weaver, CWB FGM Programme lead said "We are extremely excited to work in partnership with LCCC Foundation on this inspiring and unique project. The pilot project undertaken in February last year was a huge success, and with the commitment from the LCCC Foundation we can continue to expand that work. The work which will be undertaken in the Trafford area is completely ground-breaking; currently it is estimated that across Greater Manchester at least 2000 girls are at risk of FGM. This new project will help to address the issues surrounding this practice".