Emigrating is a huge challenge for anyone but shifting life to Scotland was made smoother for one youngster thanks to the work of a Glasgow charity cricket project.

Wicketz, a Lord’s Taverners project using cricket as a tool for change, helped Oghose, a young boy who moved from his native Italy to Springburn, settle and find his feet in Britain.

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

“Oghose belongs to an Italian background and when he moved here he didn’t have any friends,” said Development Officer Nauman Javaid.

“In school he used to be totally alone, totally isolated and his teachers used to say he never would mingle with anybody.

“After he joined the Wicketz programme, he’s got new friends, he told me he’s got about 28 of them now!

“In the past eight, nine months he’s gained confidence, he’s improved in his studies and his English has improved a lot. He’s a better young man now.

“We are using cricket as a tool for social inclusion. The kids who come to our club get a sense of belonging.

“These kids come from very deprived backgrounds and when they join they see kids from other deprived backgrounds and of different nationalities and they gain confidence, they share experiences.”

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

This year has seen Wicketz go from strength to strength with projects launching in Hull, Southampton and South Wales and over 117 workshops delivered nationally.

Lord's Taverners run weekly coaching sessions in 19 locations around the UK and engage over 1,700 disadvantaged young people, 69 per cent of which are from a BAME background.

Oghose, who had never played cricket before moving to Scotland, feels he has become a more rounded person as a result of the scheme.

“I got started with Wicketz when I was in school and my coach came to the school and he taught us how to play cricket, after I got really excited and hooked to play,” he said.

“I love cricket because it’s fun and you can learn new things. Wicketz has helped me to become a better person. I’ve learned how to be healthy and look after my body.”

Participants from all over the country descended on Derbyshire for the annual Wicketz Festival last week for three days of celebration, education and of course cricket.

The 8 to 16-year-olds had the chance to pick the brains of former England coach Peter Moores, try their hands at boxing and take part in team building exercises delivered by the Royal Navy.

And they also attended workshops educating them on a number of social issues including cyber bullying, healthy eating and identity.

“The kids came from as far north as Glasgow and as far south as Southampton, but they are all from areas where cricket isn’t easy to play and there aren’t as many green fields as some of us know,” Moores said.

“We hear all the time about trying to get people involved and the Lord’s Taverners do a fantastic job. The Wicketz Festival was that in action.

“They came from all over the country to a fantastic venue to get involved and have some fun. In sport, you make mates, you learn about yourself and keep fit.

“Lord’s Taverners is a special charity because it gets involved at levels. It’s been here for a long time and they continually hold an arm out and help people from all different backgrounds.”

Wicketz is a community cricket programme delivered by the Lord’s Taverners, which targets young people primarily between the ages of 8-19 who are living in areas of deprivation with limited access to sporting opportunities and the benefits sport can bring. To find out more, visit www.lordstaverners.org/wicketz