POLICE officers in West Mercia have again faced off against NHS staff in a now annual cricket match to promote mental health and wellbeing.
The fifth staging of the Blue Light Trophy took place at Stourport Cricket Club, with West Mercia Police Federation members taking to the crease against NHS colleagues.
The West Mercia Police team edged a nail-biting contest against the Black Country Health Gladiators by three wickets.
The 20-over match saw the Gladiators post 102, before West Mercia Police chased down the target for the loss of seven wickets.
Federation rep, PC Andy Forbes said the event was about much more than the scoreline.
“It’s all about camaraderie,” he said. “Getting people together, giving them a release from their day jobs, and focusing on health and wellbeing.”
“Both teams put in a huge effort on the pitch, but the real victory was in creating a space for colleagues across the emergency services to come together and support each other.”
The Blue Light Trophy was established after the pandemic to raise awareness of mental health in policing and healthcare, as well as fostering closer ties between the two services.
“This was our fifth year and we’ve already started putting the feelers out for a date next year,” said Andy.
“Recruitment is strong in all our sports teams at the moment, so it’s relatively easy to get people to play.
“It’s about people enjoying themselves over a game of cricket, building friendships, and maintaining positive mental health.”
