Go North East sponsor Durham Cricket Foundation's Visually Impaired Team

Go North East are delighted to announce they will continue as the front-of-shirt sponsor for the Durham Visually Impaired (VI) Cricket Team for a fourth consecutive year.

The team is the county’s only visually impaired cricket team, made up players with partial or total sight loss who compete in ECB competitions and welcome players of any age or experience.

Players use adapted equipment and modified rules to ensure the game is inclusive and competitive. The adapted equipment includes playing with larger stumps and a larger ball that makes a sound when it bounces or is struck by the bat.

Fixtures take place across the country, with players from across the region travelling to represent Durham. Go North East’s sponsorship helps fund transport to away games across the country, removing a significant barrier for visually impaired players representing Durham.

Ben Gilligan, Managing Director at Go North East, said: “We’re excited to continue supporting Durham Cricket Foundation's VI Team this season.

“We’re committed to making our services accessible to everyone. It was great to have the team join us for at the launch event our new electric buses earlier this year. Our new EVs feature a range of accessibility upgrades, including audio-visual next-stop announcements, hearing loops and external sounders to alert pedestrians when a bus is approaching.”

Go North East’s Elite Bus Driver Training Academy also collaborates with VI Team player Jack Moffat who is also the Engagement Manager for sight loss charity Thomas Pocklington Trust. Jack delivers specialised training sessions to help Go North East drivers understand the experiences of visually impaired passengers and provide the best possible customer service for those with visual impairments.

Durham’s VI team is run and supported by Durham Cricket Foundation as part of its disability cricket programme.

Graeme Weeks, CEO of Durham Cricket Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Go North East for a fourth consecutive year. Their support makes a real difference to Durham Cricket Foundation and our ability to provide opportunities for visually impaired players to enjoy the game, compete and proudly represent Durham.

“The sponsorship helps fund transport to away fixtures across the country, removing an important practical barrier for our players and enabling them to take part in competitive cricket. We’re incredibly grateful to Go North East for their continued commitment to the Foundation, the team and making cricket more accessible and inclusive.”

For more information about the Visually Impaired Cricket visit: Visually Impaired Cricket – Durham Cricket.

Notes to editors

About Durham Cricket Foundation's Visually Impaired Team

The team is run and supported by Durham Cricket Foundation as part of its disability cricket programme, which works to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to play and enjoy cricket. Through coaching, competitions and community initiatives, the Foundation is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring cricket is a sport for everyone across the county.

About Go North East

Go North East runs a network of bus routes across the North East region including Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, and surrounding areas.

The Go-Ahead Group is one of the UK’s leading providers of public transport, enabling more than a billion passenger journeys each year on its bus and rail services. Go-Ahead places great importance on partnership, adopting a collaborative approach with governments, local communities and strategic partners; developing and operating services that create long-term value for all.

For more information about Go-Ahead Group visit www.go-ahead.com.