Chance To Shine Scheme Flourishing
14 March 2012
Chance to Shine coaching began in February with cricket clubs from all corners of Gloucestershire forging strong links with their local schools.
Coaches from Apperley, Bourton Vale, Cam, Chalford, Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Fairford, Frenchay and Hatherley and Reddings are teaching cricket skills and creating competitions for schools attached to their clubs.
In addition, Gloucestershire Cricket Board coaches are running projects in Gloucester, the Forest of Dean and Bristol, leading to an incredible total of 106 Gloucestershire schools receiving high quality cricket coaching.
Chance to Shine is a national scheme run by the Cricket Foundation that has already involved over 1 million children across the country and is set to reach 2 million by 2015.
The Cricket Foundation raises £5m each year to run the scheme and, in the six years since it was established, £21m has been raised, with Sport England providing a further £12.5m. Further information can be found at www.chancetoshine.org
Some cricket clubs have enjoyed fantastic benefits from Chance to Shine. Cam CC have installed a brand new 3 lane artificial net facility, directly resulting from the success of their scheme, where 48 new girls have been attracted to join the flourishing girls section at the club.
On Friday 27th April they are planning a cricket festival involving nine primary schools and tw secondary schools, with Charlotte Edwards attending to perform the opening ceremony.
Similarly, new nets have been installed at Frenchay CC, involved in Chance to Shine for the first time last season, quickly establishing a successful and flourishing project.
They have planned a fantastic celebration with none other than Mike Gatting visiting Bromley Heath Primary School on Friday 4th May, prior to officially opening the net facility.
The development of Chance to Shine across Gloucestershire is a crucial element of the GCB’s efforts to develop cricket in the county.
Cricket clubs are benefitting from more youngsters joining and more volunteers participating in all aspects of club activity. Only last week, nine-year-old Mujahid Khan was plucked from a playground session at Widden Primary in Gloucester and was parachuted straight into the Gloucestershire Under-10s training squad.
Chance to Shine is recognized nationally as one of the best projects across all sports, increasing and improving sporting opportunities for our children.
