Re: FW: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
Liz Moore
Hi Mark,
Thank you for your patience. We are reviewing the information from both yourselves and NSPCC so that we can address this as fairly as possible.
We completely understand the frustration of cancelled games, and we are looking into the circumstances of why the team decided to call off the match so that we can help find a resolution. We do know that there were some significant travel issues on some lines so we are investigating how this had an effect on the team.
We’ve received some feedback from NSPCC about the recent emails. While we don’t feel anything was inappropriate, we can see how a couple of messages may have been interpreted differently, particularly the reference to the committee and the follow-up confirming the team standing down.
We often encourage captains to pick up the phone for quick fire discussions if possible as it reduces the chance for escalation like this.
Again, we do not believe you were inconsiderate in your emails, we're just looking at this from an outside view and seeing things from both sides.
In order to help us move forward, could you let us know which weeks your team would be willing to reschedule for? This would be greatly appreciated in looking at a route forward.
Many thanks,
Liz
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by viruses and other malware and you are advised to carry out a virus and malware check on any attachments contained in this message.Thanks, Liz! That’s much appreciated and, just to confirm, we will be very happy to follow through with whatever the committee’s recommendation is.
For full transparency, please find attached a response I’ve just received (there have been no other comms between the teams, so you have everything now). I obviously have views on what’s been said (jotted down quickly below), but I won’t be responding directly at this point until we’ve heard back from you:
- As you’ll note, the issue of safety has only just been brought up.
- On rescheduling, I’ve only indicated that it will be difficult. That said, as you’ll see, I offered Tuesday next week as a possibility (w/c 15 June, we now have our fourth match scheduled (because the other team can’t make w/c 8 June)). I’m afraid I’ve no idea without checking (which there has been no time to do!) whether there is another rest week (w/c 29 June?), but happy to be told there is and that we can / should use that week if so.
- I’m always happy to listen to other views, but I don’t feel that my tone was inconsiderate and I find it upsetting (and lazy) to be told that, particularly by a team which has cancelled at the last minute without an apology and caused a lot of last minute admin and comms at my end whilst I’m trying to do my day job!
Have a good evening and thanks again, Liz.
Mark
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
From: Liz Moore <evmo...@gmail.com>
Sent: 03 June 2026 17:23
To: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: Re: FW: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
[Caution: This email originated from an outside source. Please protect our business by not opening any links or attachments unless you trust the origin of this email.]
Hi Mark,
You are with me again this year, yes!
Thanks for raising. I’m going to take this to the committee for you tonight and will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thanks again. Bear with me!
Liz
On Wed, 3 Jun 2026 at 17:03, Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org> wrote:
Hi Liz,
Hope all’s well (and that I have the right email address for you!). I think you’re looking after our league this year.
As you can see from the email thread below, we have our match against NSPCC scheduled for today, but they have just cancelled as “a number of our team have had train delays and other issues meaning they will not be able to make the game.”
I’m not sure where you are today but right now the sun is shining and it hasn’t rained for hours. We are ready to play and very disappointed by this last minute decision. As you’ll know, trying to keep my team in the loop is also a battle.
We absolutely would prefer to play a match, but equally I anticipate that arranging a match will be very difficult at this point. As you’ll see, I asked about next Tuesday 9th earlier today but haven’t heard back from the other team. We have had to schedule our match next week for the following week due to the other team’s availability.
Could you advise on our options / what you think is best, please?
Many thanks (and sorry to bring this to you),
Mark
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
From: Everitt, Mark (Legal)
Sent: 03 June 2026 16:40
To: 'Grewal, Hardev' <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
Importance: High
Dear Hardev,
I’ve just read your email from 30 minutes ago below.
This is very disappointing and I’m afraid I don’t think we agree with the decision.
It is currently very sunny outside and hasn’t rained for hours. Are you sure you can’t muster a team?
If not, reluctantly, we will probably have to raise this with the committee because I anticipate that rescheduling is going to be very difficult.
Best wishes,
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
From: Grewal, Hardev <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>
Sent: 03 June 2026 16:08
To: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
Importance: High
[Caution: This email originated from an outside source. Please protect our business by not opening any links or attachments unless you trust the origin of this email.]
Hi @'Everitt, Mark (Legal)' & other captains,
Unfortunately due to the weather a number of our team have had train delays and other issues meaning they will not be able to make the game.
This means we will have to reschedule due to weather.
Let us know possible availability for the coming few weeks and we can work something out. I would have proposed w/c 15th as that’s what the rest week is for, but it seems you already have another rescheduled game, so we can try to figure something else out.
Thanks in advance for your understanding. Such a shame as our team were looking forward to play, but guess we can’t help British weather.
Thanks,
Hardev Singh Grewal (he/him)
Senior Strategy & Planning Manager
Working pattern: hybrid (London-based), typically between 8am and 6pm Monday – Thursday as Fridays are my non-working day.
I sometimes work flexibly, so whilst I’m sending this at a time that is convenient for me, please only read/respond during a time that works for you.
Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH | 020 7825 2500 | nspcc.org.uk
Registered charity England and Wales 216401, Jersey 384 and Scotland SC037717
From: Grewal, Hardev
Sent: 03 June 2026 15:24
To: 'Everitt, Mark (Legal)' <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
See you there
Hardev Singh Grewal (he/him)
Senior Strategy & Planning Manager
Working pattern: hybrid (London-based), typically between 8am and 6pm Monday – Thursday as Fridays are my non-working day.
I sometimes work flexibly, so whilst I’m sending this at a time that is convenient for me, please only read/respond during a time that works for you.
Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH | 020 7825 2500 | nspcc.org.uk
Registered charity England and Wales 216401, Jersey 384 and Scotland SC037717
From: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>
Sent: 03 June 2026 14:55
To: Grewal, Hardev <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
Hi Hardev,
The rain has eased, so I think (even though it won’t be very nice) we need to proceed on the basis that we are going ahead (unless of course there is a massive downpour just before), so see you in Victoria Park for a start time of 630!
Cheers,
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
From: Grewal, Hardev <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>
Sent: 03 June 2026 12:49
To: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
[Caution: This email originated from an outside source. Please protect our business by not opening any links or attachments unless you trust the origin of this email.]
Hi,
Sure let’s see by 3pm.
Not sure on 9th as we haven’t heard back RE our planned match for next week yet so may be tough. But I’m sure we can find time this month to catch up if need to shift. Just polling to see team preference at the minute.
Thanks,
Hardev Singh Grewal (he/him)
Senior Strategy & Planning Manager
Working pattern: hybrid (London-based), typically between 8am and 6pm Monday – Thursday as Fridays are my non-working day.
I sometimes work flexibly, so whilst I’m sending this at a time that is convenient for me, please only read/respond during a time that works for you.
Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH | 020 7825 2500 | nspcc.org.uk
Registered charity England and Wales 216401, Jersey 384 and Scotland SC037717
From: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>
Sent: 03 June 2026 12:29
To: Grewal, Hardev <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
Hi again,
Weather is looking highly problematic at the moment I’m afraid to say. Shall we agree to make a decision by 3pm?
Our fourth match has been pushed from next week to the following week, so we could rearrange for next Tuesday 9 June (if the weather doesn’t improve). Would that work for you?
Best wishes,
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
From: Everitt, Mark (Legal)
Sent: 03 June 2026 10:04
To: 'Grewal, Hardev' <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
Yes, we are ready to play this evening!
Fingers crossed the weather holds!
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
From: Grewal, Hardev <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>
Sent: 03 June 2026 09:38
To: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
[Caution: This email originated from an outside source. Please protect our business by not opening any links or attachments unless you trust the origin of this email.]
Hi all,
Hope you’re well!
Just wanted to confirm the below still works for you today?
Thanks,
Hardev Singh Grewal (he/him)
Senior Strategy & Planning Manager
Working pattern: hybrid (London-based), typically between 8am and 6pm Monday – Thursday as Fridays are my non-working day.
I sometimes work flexibly, so whilst I’m sending this at a time that is convenient for me, please only read/respond during a time that works for you.
Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH | 020 7825 2500 | nspcc.org.uk
Registered charity England and Wales 216401, Jersey 384 and Scotland SC037717
From: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>
Sent: 19 May 2026 11:09
To: Grewal, Hardev <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
That’s great news, thanks very much Hardev.
See you for a 630pm start on Wednesday 3 June in Victoria Park (we play near the People’s Park Tavern and next to the cricket pitches).
All the best,
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
From: Grewal, Hardev <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>
Sent: 19 May 2026 11:03
To: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>; Noble, Jude <Jude....@NSPCC.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: RE: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
[Caution: This email originated from an outside source. Please protect our business by not opening any links or attachments unless you trust the origin of this email.]
Hi,
Thanks for this – yep that works for us. May be slightly short on players, but should be fine.
Happy to lock in that time/day
All the best,
Hardev Singh Grewal (he/him)
Senior Strategy & Planning Manager
Working pattern: hybrid (London-based), typically between 8am and 6pm Monday – Thursday as Fridays are my non-working day.
I sometimes work flexibly, so whilst I’m sending this at a time that is convenient for me, please only read/respond during a time that works for you.
Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3NH | 020 7825 2500 | nspcc.org.uk
Registered charity England and Wales 216401, Jersey 384 and Scotland SC037717
From: Everitt, Mark (Legal) <Mark.E...@britishcouncil.org>
Sent: 18 May 2026 15:22
To: Noble, Jude <jude....@nspcc.org.uk>; Grewal, Hardev <hardev...@nspcc.org.uk>
Cc: aurora....@outlook.com; Broadway, James (Marketing and Communications) <James.B...@britishcouncil.org>
Subject: Big Softies v NSPCC Narwhals
Hi Jude and Hardev,
Hope this finds you both well.
We have run a poll at this end and identified that Wednesday 3 June is the best day for our match. We like to play in Victoria Park and hope that will work for you.
Look forward to hearing back so we can lock the date and location in!
All the best,
Mark
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by viruses and other malware and you are advised to carry out a virus and malware check on any attachments contained in this message.
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The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by viruses and other malware and you are advised to carry out a virus and malware check on any attachments contained in this message.
Please read important notice below: This email and any documents sent with it are intended solely for the named recipient and may be legally privileged and/or confidential. If you have received this email in error please destroy it and contact the sender, via our switchboard on +44 (0) 20 7825 2500, or via return email. You should not copy, or use the contents, attachments or information in any way or pass them to a third party without prior permission from the author. Any unauthorised use or disclosure may be unlawful. The NSPCC cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this email after it is sent from the originator over the internet and accepts no responsibility for changes made after it was sent. Any opinion expressed in this email is personal to the author and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Society. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered Charity Number 216401. Registered Scottish Charity Number SC037717. Registered Jersey Charity Number 384.
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by viruses and other malware and you are advised to carry out a virus and malware check on any attachments contained in this message.
Please read important notice below: This email and any documents sent with it are intended solely for the named recipient and may be legally privileged and/or confidential. If you have received this email in error please destroy it and contact the sender, via our switchboard on +44 (0) 20 7825 2500, or via return email. You should not copy, or use the contents, attachments or information in any way or pass them to a third party without prior permission from the author. Any unauthorised use or disclosure may be unlawful. The NSPCC cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this email after it is sent from the originator over the internet and accepts no responsibility for changes made after it was sent. Any opinion expressed in this email is personal to the author and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Society. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH. Incorporated by Royal Charter. Registered Charity Number 216401. Registered Scottish Charity Number SC037717. Registered Jersey Charity Number 384.
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. A registered charity: 209131 (England and Wales) SC037733 (Scotland). This message is for the use of the intended recipient(s) only and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete it. The British Council accepts no liability for loss or damage caused by viruses and other malware and you are advised to carry out a virus and malware check on any attachments contained in this message.
Everitt, Mark (Legal)
Morning Liz,
Thanks very much for your email.
I totally understand you need to look at things from all sides, but I’m also very glad you agree there was nothing inconsiderate in those two emails. As is hopefully obvious from the time stamps, I was suddenly tasked with managing a last-minute match cancellation (which seemed unreasonable and out of the blue to Jim, Aurora and me), whilst also attending to work emails and calls, so I’m afraid brevity was required. Ironically, the reference to raising this with the committee was in my mind precisely with a view to avoiding any awkward conversations (i.e., my thinking was “let’s let the committee make a call on this” which I think is what I said when I reached out to you). I absolutely agree that picking up the phone is a good idea, but I was in between work calls and that obviously equally applies to NSPCC!
In any event, it’s a storm in a teacup in the context of everything else going on in the world and time to move on…
In terms of a week to reschedule, you’ll have seen that I already offered Tuesday 9 June to Hardev. I didn’t receive a response, but I think that would be very tricky at this point (as would any date next week at this late stage). Therefore, given we have matches scheduled for the following two weeks, I suspect the best option would be w/c 29 June. Does that work out OK with the league schedule?
Thanks again, Liz.
Liz Moore
I've caught up with the team at NSPCC and they did have additional issues with travel for players coming in from outside London with the affected train lines, so weather did cause some significant trouble.
Everitt, Mark (Legal)
Thank you very much for working this through in such a measured and considered way. It’s appreciated. We look forward to your email so that we can move forwards – and I hope we can find a date that works!
(Point absolutely taken on 1.6, though Victoria Park is ten minutes from where I live, and the British Council office, so I (we) were very confident it would be fine and I did say to Hardev that it was sunny and hadn’t rained for hours in my message. I suspect that suggesting going down to the park would not have elicited a positive response (as the decision was clearly already made on their side at that point).
All the best,
Mark
Mark Everitt (he / him)
British Council | 1 Redman Place | Stratford | London | E20 1JQ | United Kingdom
M +44 (0)7808 291 153 E mark.e...@britishcouncil.org
