The Cricket Foundation is celebrating the introduction of the 2000th state school to its Chance to shine campaign. Another milestone highlighted today in the charity’s end of year report is the 200,000th child to enjoy the benefits of competitive cricket.
In total, 226,884 children participated in the programme this year in 2,082 primary and secondary schools; and a staggering 38,298 cricket matches were played – matches that in almost all of the state schools would not have been played three years ago.
The Cricket Foundation’s Director of Operations and Development, Wasim Khan, describes 2008 as “an extremely successful year for Chance to shine, with more boys and girls from state schools playing more competitive cricket than ever before.”
Further encouraging news from the report is that the number of girls participating in club cricket as a result of the Chance to shine campaign is at an all time high. 102,080 girls (45% of the total) participated in the 2008 Chance to shine programme with more than a fifth joining their local cricket club.
The results are linked to the Cricket Foundation’s initiative, backed by the England and Wales Cricket Board, to employ members of the England Women’s team as Chance to shine coaches and ambassadors in 2008.
Not only have the England women players helped to generate interest at school level, they have also encouraged girls to make the transition from schools to clubs. 78 clubs now have established or strengthened cricket provision for girls through the Chance to shine programme.
Rosalie Birch, one of eight England Women with Chance to shine contracts, remarked, “It’s great being involved at both school and club level. Seeing enthusiastic girls who’ve become inspired by cricket in our sessions at school moving onto clubs is hugely satisfying. It’s what our jobs are all about.”
Other key figures highlighted in the Chance to shine Operations Report 2008 include:
* 56,076 coaching hours delivered by Chance to shine coaches;
* 10,401 boys and girls ‘migrating’ from schools to clubs during the first three years of Chance to shine; and
* 82% of the children that migrated to cricket clubs in 2007 remained with their club in 2008.
The full Operations Report is attached or can be read at chancetoshine.org
