Chance to Shine has published its Impact Report for the 2021/22 academic year, where once again over half a million children have benefitted from the charity’s programmes. 

In total 563,012 young people took part between September 2021 and August 2022, with 50% of those participants being female.

The report outlines the crucial focus on providing opportunities to those young people who need them most, with 40% of the 4,022 primary schools receiving Chance to Shine having a higher than national average proportion of pupils receiving free school meals. Indeed in the last four years, half of all state primary schools in England and Wales have received a Chance to Shine programme.

Read our latest Impact Report covering the period from September 2021-August 2022.

Street cricket has continued to provide a vital community setting for those who would not traditionally have access to the sport, with 65% of young people attending projects coming from the 30% most deprived areas of England.

Research also evidences the crucial role that programmes play in changing young people’s relationship with physical activity. 66% of participants in schools agreed they enjoyed taking part in exercise and sport, compared to 47% of children nationally.

Data also shows the undeniable impact that cricket has on those able to pick up a bat and ball. 95% of teachers agreed that taking part in Chance to Shine had a positive affect on their pupils’ mental wellbeing, whilst 98% of parents of Street participants believed that sessions had a positive affect on their child’s happiness.

Inspirational Case Studies

The 2023 report tells some incredible stories of the impact of Chance to Shine programmes, including that of Anna – a young Ukrainian refugee living in Wales who has not only grown a love for the game, but found a wonderful and welcoming community within the sport.

Her Chance to Shine coach, Joe Lambe, sums it up best. “Cricket, for me, is the greatest sport,” he says. “It brings everyone together, it creates unity…I think cricket has helped Anna. I truly believe that. I think cricket has developed her in a great way and long may it continue.”

Elsewhere is the story of the Wolverhampton Street project, where coach Tariq Ali has inspired a group of teenage boys to become role models for a new wave of participants.

“Tariq is a big role model for me, he’s given me loads of activities where I can represent myself to other people,” says 18-year-old Shukran. “For example, I’ve done a first aid certification where he gave me the opportunity to sign up. Also, confidence, being able to talk to people. When we first came here, I didn’t know how to socialise. Now I can talk confidently.”

Chance to Shine interim Chief Executive Vanessa Greene said: “Yet again we are blown away by the impact our programmes have had on the young people we work with, in particular those children who traditionally face barriers to accessing sport. Our work is now more important than ever and we are tremendously excited for what the future holds. As always we’re very grateful to England and Wales Cricket Board and Sport England, who share our vision and values and make so much of this work possible.”

Once again this summer, donations to Chance to Shine are being matched £ for £ by the Charity Patron Adrian Beecroft. We are incredibly grateful for his support, which over the years has now surpassed £1,000,000. Give today to make your donation go twice as far at chancetoshine.org/donate.