Holly Colvin – Project Leader
I first volunteered with CWB in Kenya back in 2012 and it’s safe to say I caught the bug like many others. I returned immediately on a trip to Uganda in 2013 and lead my first project in Rwanda in 2014. Having taken time away from the charity to work overseas in Dubai at the ICC – it’s great to be back in a new role as Trustee.
As a Trustee, I want to experience being a volunteer again and see firsthand how far the people that we work with in Uganda have come from my last visit 10 years ago. I can’t wait to smell that fresh dusty African air, hear the sound of carnage as tennis balls are hurled into stumps and feel the rush of coaching 500 kids at the end of a day. It an experience like no other and I can’t wait to play may part to growing cricket in Uganda and support the young people in Jinja.
Ed Williams – Head of International Development
As a co-founder of both CWB and also Assurety, I am really excited about bringing the two organisations together (one commercial and one charitable) with the aim of supporting CWB’s cricket for good goals.
I first visited Jinja, where the source of the Nile is, in November 2005 (when I was a lot younger…) as part of CWB’s very first project, coaching cricket from Cairo to Cape Town over a 7-month period. It holds a very special place in my heart, as it is probably my favourite corner of Africa.
I am also delighted to be doing this trip with one of my CWB co-founders, Andy Hobbs. So, it will be trip for the future in terms of bringing CWB and Assurety together, but also a lovely way to reflect on 18 years well spent!”
Andy Hobbs – Head of Cricket Development
I am one of the founders of CWB and was a trustee from the formation of the charity until 2020. I have also had the privilege of working in cricket for much of my career, from various English counties to 10 years working at the ICC in Dubai. That experience has given me firsthand experience of the power of cricket to bring people and communities together and change lives.
I am excited to be going back out on a project again – especially now that I am not working in cricket. As well as putting some smiles on faces I hope we can continue to make a sustained difference to Uganda and specifically Jinja and hope to be able to use my experience to make a difference.
David Rutherford – Head of Team Wellbeing
I am passionate about helping people perform at their best in the moments that really matter.
I am CEO of Assurety, working as part of a great team to provide relevant support and guidance
to anyone who needs to get their message across and perform at their very best in unfamiliar
and/or challenging situations. That might be appearing in a court, tribunal or arbitration hearing, whether as a claimant, defendant or witness. It might also be appearing before a public inquiry, parliamentary hearing, or professional body.
As a proud dad of two children, I am passionate about maximising opportunities for young people regarding skills development and wellbeing. Multiple drivers are in play, including policy direction, the increase in computational power, and artificial intelligence. These factors are creating opportunities and challenges for society and business, in particular, the need to balance agility with resilience.
As a passionate sports fan (I consider sport the most important of the least important things in life as the saying goes) I have coached children in various sports in the UK over the last 10 years. I made an overland truck journey through Africa more than 20 years ago and so the opportunity to revisit the continent and use cricket as a vehicle for education and awareness was something I find really compelling and am excited to be part of.
Steve McConnell – Head of Monitoring and Evaluation
I’m an entrepreneur and I am passionate about building businesses and developing people. I co-founded 2 Circles Communications Ltd and after over 20 years of organic growth, we sold the business in 2020. This gave me the opportunity to exit the business and I now mentor young business leaders, hold a Non-Executive Director position and most importantly, I can spend more time with my wife, two teenage children and beloved Border Terrier. The rest of my time is spent playing golf, cricket, skiing, practicing yoga, watching football and other sports, travelling and attending the occasional music festival.
I have been involved in coaching Junior Sport since 2004, and am currently Head Coach of Old Albanian Cricket Club Under 15s. I’ve seen firsthand the role that sport can play in helping young people develop social and technical skills, resilience, teamwork, empathy and mental wellbeing. A friend of mine did a CWB Trip five years ago and I was inspired by his story. I love CWB’s concept of using cricket as a platform for health education and social change. My Wife has been very closely involved with the Charity Spotlight on Africa who also do great work in Uganda, and when I mentioned this opportunity to her she started packing my bag for me.
