We look out for players throughout their active careers and long afterwards, funding life-changing medical assistance, crisis helplines and educational programmes in England and Wales.
Personal Development & Wellbeing Support
The Cricketers’ Trust works closely with the PCA’s team of nine-strong Personal Development and Welfare Managers (PDMs) help players throughout their careers while preparing them for life after cricket through their holistic work.
They recognise that cricket is likely to be the focus of the players’ lives, and so provide guidance on how to maximise their cricketing focus, whilst also fulfilling other areas of their life such as education and career.
The aim of the PDMs is to work closely with cricketers, coaches and support staff as part of an integrated team to minimise potential concerns, conflicts and distractions, all of which can be detrimental to a player’s performance, and at worst, may end a career prematurely.
Recent funding from the Cricketers’ Trust has ensured all county players have received education workshops on the risks of gambling and driving unsafely since the start of 2017. Also, all first-class academies, including the Senior England Women’s Academy have been educated on understanding their mental health through playing professional support thanks to the Trust after teaming up with mental health charity, Mind in 2018.
Confidential Helpline
The PCA runs a free Confidential Helpline which is funded by the Cricketers’ Trust and is available to all PCA members when they need it most by calling 07780008877.
Launched in 2005, the helpline is used by past and present professional cricketers in England Wales who would like to talk to a professional counsellor and therapist in absolute confidence. If a PCA member is struggling with a personal problem such as drink, drugs, gambling, dependency, bereavement, depression anything that may be affect their life, help is a phone call away.
The helpline is free and confidential with experienced counsellors who understand the pressure of the profession. But it does not need be the first call…
No matter what age, any member is welcome to speak to any PCA employee who can put help in touch straight away. If a member is in severe danger help will be with them within hours. We encourage members not to delay a phone call, there is no such thing as a time waster with this service.
Medical Assistance
The Cricketers’ Trust provides specialist equipment for those in need, including specially adapted vehicles for members who have suffered life changing accidents away from cricket.
Emergency operations have also been funded including remedial physiotherapy. As part of the PCA’s commitment to raising mental health issues through the Mind Matters initiative, a Confidential Helpline is funded by the Cricketers’ Trust which has directly helped hundreds of members since its inception in 2005.
Mind Matters
The Mind Matters tutorials were launched in 2012 with the aim to educate PCA members about various effects and consequences on mental health through everyday stresses.
Funded by the Cricketers’ Trust, the tutorials aim to help members recognise the circumstances that could lead to a problem with substances, gambling or alcohol. Learning the warning signs of anxiety and depression in oneself or others, and how to access help and manage the problem.
This campaign was launched on the back of the successful Confidential Helpline, and continues to be an important resource for past and present professional cricketers.
Thrive Wellbeing App
Originally launched in 2014, the Thrive wellbeing app has been created and developed with the support of UK psychologists and psychiatrists as a proactive resource to aid health and wellbeing of PCA members, and to help them deal with everyday stresses of life on and off the pitch.
The platform was updated in 2021 to provide access to qualified therapists through the app itself. It is available to all PCA members free of charge, and is clinically proven to help manage stress and mental health using simple, accessible, everyday tools.
For more information on the Cricketers’ Trust contact Ian Thomas on 07920575578 or email ian.thomas@professionalcricketerstrust.org
The Cricketers’ Trust is here to support the life-long health and wellbeing of PCA members and their immediate families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
If you ever find yourself in need of support, don’t hesitate to contact us in confidence via the number above so we can provide the help you need as quickly as possible. The Trust’s services are available to all PCA members, including current and ex-players, and their immediate families.
