Frequently Asked Questions

Our main focus is squarely on the education and well-being of young people. We think cricket, the ultimate team game, has a big role to play in this and we intend to restore our summer game to more than a third of state schools within ten years. We want to put in high-quality, sustainable cricket programmes that can make a lasting impact.

In our pilot scheme in 2005, we selected twelve well-run cricket clubs and asked each of them to work with six schools – primary and secondary. The boys and girls received between three and four hours’ instruction a week from qualified coaches supplied by the clubs. It was a successful start and this summer we've broadened this to 100 clubs and 600 schools. By Year 8, we’ll have 800 clubs working with schools and by that time many of the programmes will be self-sustaining.

We’ve a number of performance indicators such as the number of matches played; the success of state schools in competitions previously dominated by independents and the number of newly-committed young cricketers who join clubs. We’ll monitor results in these areas every year.

Over the ten years, we need to raise £25 million and we expect to attract a further £25 million in matching funding from government. We’ve made a good start: £8 million has already been secured through individual donors, the Lord’s Taverners and our corporate partners, Allianz Insurance plc and Slazenger. There are many other initiatives in the pipeline.

If your club is recognised by its local county cricket board (CCB) as a ‘focus club’ and is Club-Mark accredited, you should contact your CCB to register your interest to become involved. If you are a state school and want to benefit from the scheme, please make contact with your CCB who will be able to supply you with information on how the scheme works.

To contact your local Cricket Development Manager click here.

We need help from everyone who cares about educational opportunities for young people and the special part cricket can play within schools. As an individual, you can directly help in one of two ways:

• Make a one-off donation
• Become a member of the Chance to shine club

Go to the section marked Donate and follow the simple instructions.

We also need volunteers: coaches and mentors; administrative helpers and local fundraisers. Go to the section marked Volunteers.

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