Chance to Shine is a national charity that aims to give all children the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket. We believe that cricket can help to develop the personal, social and physical skills of the 600,000 children that we work with every year.

Chance to Shine Schools

Chance to Shine works in schools to provide children with a brilliant first experience of cricket. We work with the 39 County Cricket Boards across England and Wales and Cricket Scotland to send specialist coaches into schools, once a week for six weeks, to support cricket coaching.

As well as the physical benefits of regular activity, we use cricket to teach children important key life skills that will help them beyond the playground. Through the values of cricket, we teach children about respect and fair play.

Cricket is also an effective way to develop skills like communication, leadership and perseverance that will benefit them throughout their life.

We believe that cricket is an inclusive sport, where girls and boys can play and learn together. We think that normalising female participation in cricket is a hugely important and valuable part of the work that we do. Of the five million children that Chance to Shine has reached since its foundation in 2005, 46% are girls and this figure is rising. In 2020, we reached as many girls as boys for the first time. We think it is vitally important for girls and boys to learn to work and play together from an early age.

Chance to Shine Street

Chance to Shine Street cricket gives children and young adults in inner-city areas the opportunity to play the sport - 85% of players were not members of a traditional cricket club when they joined the sessions. Street offers a different way into the sport.

It’s played with a tapeball, a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape, plastic bats and matches last for just 20 minutes – it’s cricket’s answer to 5-a-side football!

The projects run after-school or at weekends, are completely free and players don’t need to bring any equipment. The sessions run in sports halls, community centres and schools for two age groups - Youths (eight-16) and Young Adults (16-24).

Regular local leagues and tournaments run throughout the year to give the cricketers the opportunity to make friends with people from other areas and play in a competitive environment.

Chance to Shine Street is bringing the game to some of the poorest areas of the UK. Two-thirds of Street cricketers live in the 30% most deprived areas of the UK and the sessions provide them with an alternative to hanging out on the streets or sitting at home in front of the TV.

Street cricket can also be powerful way for people to make new friends and to integrate into the community. Projects in cities like Coventry and Bristol who have a high number of refugees have used Street to engage with these people and help them to feel at home and welcome in the area.

We believe that the power of cricket can help change the lives of children and young people across the UK and are committed to reaching as many children as we can.
- Laura Cordingley, Chief Executive, Chance to Shine

Our Values

Inspiring

• We lead by example, inspiring young people, partners and supporters to feel what we feel.

Ambitious

• Whatever we’re doing, we think big. We’ve already proved it works.

Inclusive

• We welcome everyone. We work closely and collaboratively with partners to deliver our vision.

Passionate

• We love cricket and believe in its power to change lives. Our passion always shines through.

Fun

• We love what we do and we’re proud of the enjoyment we bring to young people.