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Yorkshire Diamonds hold coaching session on Leeds Beckett residential
Yorkshire Diamonds cricketers have held a coaching session with Year 10 and 11 schoolgirls as part of a three-day residential at Leeds Beckett University.
Girls from a South Asian background from schools across Yorkshire attended the Larkia Summer Residential on Headingley Campus between August 4 and 6.
They took part in academic and social media workshops, a University Uncovered Q&A, listened to guest speakers and held their own Dragons Den, as well as getting the chance to unwind with a trip to the cinema and dinner dance.
The residential was attended by 46 girls who also benefited from the cricket session on The Acre with the Diamonds who are currently embarking on their inaugural Kia Super League campaign.
Yorkshire cricketer and Leeds Beckett PE student Hayley Martinus, 22, said: “It’s good that there’s such a good turnout.
“It’s nice to see a lot of girls interested in the game that haven’t played before.
“Hopefully being in front of the James Graham building, it’s a nice place to experience the University and they can make new friends and it can show them university is not that scary as well.”
Among those taking part was Isra Ahmed, 15, a student at Belle Vue Girls’ School in Bradford, who is interested in studying Psychology and Biology further.
Of the coaching and residential, she said: “I found it really fun. I came last year and enjoyed it so much; we went everywhere and learned so much stuff. I told my friends to come with me this year.”
Jasmin Kaur, 15, a student at The Halifax Academy, added: “I have learnt a lot. Firstly I have got an idea about my future and the residential has helped us find qualities and some fields into which we can go.
“I have also learned other skills such as public speaking in the Dragons Den.
“Before this, I had no idea how university life is, courses or how accreditation worked. I have made a lot of new friends with people I have not seen before.”
The programme was supported by Leeds Beckett Student Ambassadors like Mehr-Un-Nisa Mansha, 21, who were able to pass on their own experiences.
“It has been really good because I’m also from a South Asian background and it has been really nice to try and inspire the girls,” she said.
“I have come from Peterborough, I have lived the whole experience and it is nice speaking about university, raising aspirations and speaking to them about things they are interested in and higher education in whatever form.”
Larkia is Leeds Beckett’s longest-running outreach programme, providing girls with a supportive, inspiring and safe environment to find out more about higher education.
Inderjeet Hunjan, Head of Access and Widening Participation, said: “It’s been brilliant. It’s the biggest number we have ever had and there has been 100 per cent attendance.
“It’s about supporting them to make an informed choice but also broaden their horizons really, to make them think about subjects they may not have considered and ones they may stereotypically not go into.”
