Middlesex’s Ethan Bamber claimed a PCA Futures Awards in the Community Spirit category and received a £2,000 prize.
The standard from this year’s finalists was extremely high as the panel saw PCA Vice Chair Anuj Dal alongside Vagadia in the Academic progression category. Ben Twohig and Kiran Carlson joined Griffiths in the Business Impact category and Tom Lace and Bamber completed the impressive list.
The PCA Futures Awards, which are part of the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme (PDWP), encourages candidates to apply with detailed information of what they have been doing away from the game. A list of finalists are then invited to deliver a presentation followed by a question and answer session based on their personal development.
The event aims to highlight the very best examples of personal development amongst the PCA membership and help those winners towards their future ambitions.
For the third year in succession, the PCA Futures Awards were held in association with Lodders Solicitors, at the law firm’s Cheltenham office. The judges had the difficult task of picking the winners from each category and an overall prize from the seven finalists.
Finalists presented in person and via video link to the panel, with the decision makers then sharing an IT package of support from PCA partner Lucidica to those who had specific needs.
The panel, made up of Lodders Managing Partner, Paul Mourton, PCA Non Executive Director Caroline Artis and PCA Head of Cricket Operations, Rich Hudson, were extremely impressed by the aptitude of the finalists.
Community Spirit – Ethan Bamber (Middlesex)
Bamber caught the eye of the judges with the work he’s been doing for Opening Up Cricket and working as an Educational Facilitator for Sporting Chance enabling mental wellbeing conversations. The 24-year-old has also been completing a Leadership in Sport master’s degree with Loughborough University. The Middlesex bowler wants to enable others in the game to speak opening about mental health and is looking to spend the money to support his university course.
PCA Futures Awards Community Spirit winner, Ethan Bamber, said: “I feel very fortunate to be able to share my story and I hope that I can drive more change around mental health conversations.
“It was a real privilege to talk to the Lodders staff because they’re so knowledgeable and they gave me some really helpful tips.
“People are aware of Sporting Chance’s helpline through the Professional Cricketers’ Trust and I would say to people there is always light at the end of the tunnel if they’re struggling because I know what that’s like.
“The Awards have been phenomenal and we’re so lucky to have the support of the PCA and Lodders.”
