National Cricket Week a hit with children across the nation

Last week (June 17-21) was Chance to Shine’s National Cricket Week, a nationwide festival of cricket celebrating the sport, raising awareness of Chance to Shine’s work, inspiring children, and showing them why cricket is a game for all

Since 2005, Chance to Shine, an independent charity, has brought cricket to more than 6 million children in schools and communities across England, Wales and Scotland. On a mission to help inspire children through cricket, Chance to Shine has helped children to learn the game and find a sense of belonging through the sport, while also developing life skills and their wider wellbeing.

“The thing that really struck me about Chance to Shine is that it’s a charity promoting cricket, but for everybody,” said England cricketer Issy Wong during a visit to Heathfield Primary School in Birmingham to launch Chance to Shine’s new early years resource package, Here Come the Bright Sparks, as part of National Cricket Week.

Wong added: “That ‘for everybody’ part is the big thing that’s really important because it shouldn’t matter what background you’re from, what age you are, if you’re male or female, cricket should be something that everybody can get involved in.”

Here Come the Bright Sparks is a new resource package aimed at supporting the physical development of children during their Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The resources include an animation, Meet Charlie, the Confident Cricketer, alongside four physical development lessons with a storytelling theme.

“I wanted to play cricket but never really knew how to play,” said Heathfield student Ariyaan. “Now I know how to play.”

Classmate Zaaoa added on the opportunity to meet Issy Wong at her school: “It’s been amazing because you can see a real cricketer.”

One of the marquee events of National Cricket Week was Chance to Shine’s annual Schools’ Open Day. To mark the start of the week, More than 400 children from state schools across the country attended an event at Lord’s where they had the opportunity to play cricket and take part in a host of activities on the outfield and in the indoor school, with England Women captain Heather Knight and England men’s international Richard Gleeson there to take part and get involved.

The pupils at Lord’s were from schools that makeup the 4,000 state primary schools that have received a ‘half-term of cricket’ from Chance to Shine coaches in the last year.

“We’ve just been doing some really fun activities,” said Fletcher, one of the children in attendance. “We’ve been doing drumming, we’ve been having mini games, we’ve had a tour. It’s just been really fun.”

Accessible: Street Cricket gives young people the chance to play cricket without the need for expensive equipment

Another attendee, Emily, added: “I like playing cricket because it’s really fun when you bat the ball and have to run and do lots of exercise.”

At the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, two sides made up of cricketers from Chance to Shine Street champions Easton Street took on a team of cricket YouTubers and content creators in a game of street cricket in Gloucestershire CCC’s indoor school.

Easton won the Young Adults category of Chance to Shine’s Street competition finals in Nottingham last year.

Dan Jazdevics from ourCricket said: “[My] first impressions of street cricket have been absolutely wild. I’ve played a little bit of indoor cricket and it’s kind of similar, but it’s a little bit safer with a softer ball. The energy is so high, the enthusiasm is massive.”

Gareth Grant from Can You Cricket added: “Very different to your usual cricket. It’s a gateway for a lot of people to get into cricket. And, also, cricket is about enjoying yourself, having fun, and I can tell you we had a lot of fun tonight.”

Chance to Shine’s Street Clubs programme gives young people aged 8-24 in underserved areas the chance to develop their cricket and life skills while also taking part in informal matches. There are currently 293 Street Cricket Clubs across England, Wales and Scotland, with 82% of participants from ethnically diverse backgrounds and 65% of them from some of England’s most deprived areas.

“It eliminates the need for that expensive kit,” said Chance to Shine Trustee Bilal Raja. “You can show up with a tennis ball, bit of electrical tape and you don’t even need a stump. Just use a nice, good old-fashioned bag.

“And it’s great because it brings people from varying backgrounds to the safe place that is a cricket hall.”

It wasn’t just street cricketers in Bristol getting involved in National Cricket Week as young people from the 17 Street Clubs across Surrey were lucky enough to form the guard of honour at The Oval as the players took the field in Surrey’s T20 clash with Glamorgan.

Other events that took place during the week included 3,000 children from across Sussex attending a match at Hove, girls from Buckinghamshire attending a Street Cricket session in Bletchley, 60 children took part in a mixed Dynamos final at Upton CC in Cheshire, 16 teams battled it out at Taunton at the Chance to Compete County Finals, 120 girls from across North Powys descended on Newtown CC, and much, much more.

Anyone who would like to get involved in National Cricket Week next year can sign up for the Chance to Shine Portal where the charity houses their bank of teaching resources by visiting teachers. chancetoshine.org.