Only sport can bridge divides like the six nationalities and five religions between a group of 15 Glasgow kids – now best friends thanks to a charity cricket project.

Wicketz, a Lord’s Taverners project using cricket as a tool for change, launched a hub in Springburn in 2017 and it has quickly become a big hit north of the Clyde.

As well as providing cricket sessions at the Glasgow Club health and fitness centre, it also delivers workshops on healthy eating, first aid, personal hygiene and careers.

Development Officer Ammar Ashraf, whose work has been enabled by a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, hailed the scheme’s ability to transform young lives.

“Cricket hasn’t historically been played in Springburn and we’re using cricket as a vehicle to bring the children together,” he said.

“We’ve even managed to revive the local cricket ground. It hadn’t been maintained at all and now the council are helping us improve the facilities.

“The kids started a bit apprehensively, they weren’t sure who was coaching them or who the other children were.

“You can see over a period of three to four months, now they are coming and walking up as if they own the place – that’s what I want to see.

“Their confidence is improving and they’re better communicators. With the cultural differences between them, there’s social cohesion going on as well.”

The programme aims to establish community cricket clubs in deprived areas where opportunities to play sport are lower than the national average.

As part of Wicketz, regular participants spent three unforgettable days at the programme’s national festival at Repton School in Derbyshire from August 6-8.

The event brought together Wicketz kids from across the UK, with the Glasgow contingent thrown into teams alongside youngsters from Plymouth.

Using the school’s world-class facilities, the 8 to 16-year-olds were put through their paces by professionals and given workshops on social media awareness, crime prevention and poetry.

Ashraf spoke of the children’s enthusiasm for everything the festival had to offer.

“Once they’d recovered from the seven-hour journey, the kids absolutely loved it,” he said.

“They were playing cricket in the main courtyard until 9.30 at night and that was just part of what we did.

“To these children, it’s probably the biggest thing that’s ever happened to them.

“It’s a fantastic thing for them to experience and we were given such a warm welcome.”

Derbyshire all-rounder Luis Reece – on hand to share his expertise with bat and ball – was enthused by the energy of the young participants.

“Everyone should have the opportunity the game we love and this programme offers that to kids who might not otherwise get the chance,” said the former Lancashire ace.

“They are talented kids who all came down with a smile on their face and asked me lots of questions, which is very rewarding to see.”

Using cricket as a tool for change, Wicketz is aimed at hard-to-reach youngsters aged 8-16 within areas of high deprivation across the UK, by engaging young people who live in communities where there are few opportunities to play the game regularly.