THE Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF) – the official charity arm of Yorkshire County Cricket Club – has welcomed Afghanistan refugees to Headingley.

Roughly 30 Afghan refugees took part in a special event last month at Headingley Stadium having arrived in the UK last year.

Highlights from the event included cricket activities at the indoor cricket centre, with Northern Diamonds cricketer Rachel Slater taking part, on Monday, February 21.

There was also a tour of Headingley Stadium, led by YCF tour guide Mel Reuben.

Slater said: “I think it’s really good to give young people like this an opportunity.

“For me I’ve had an upbringing where I’ve had opportunities, but these kids haven’t necessarily, so the fact that they can get opportunities like this is class…and I think more should be done around the country to help kids like this.”

The event is part of ongoing support being offered by YCF alongside local organisations in the region to support Afghan refugees.

Since November, last year, the Foundation has hosted a number of cricket sessions and events across Yorkshire for refugees that moved to the county since the Taliban took over Afghanistan last year.

The sessions are thanks to a partnership between YCF, alongside a number of organisations including Mein Charity, World Cup Legacy organisation, Yorkshire Cricket Board and working in partnership with local councils.

For the future, the charity partnership also aims to provide education opportunities for the refugees.

For more information about the work YCF is doing to support Afghan refugees or to get involved, email Jake Littleton, a community activator for the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation, on: jake.littleton@yorkshirecricketfoundation.com