We are delighted to announce a 5-year partnership between the Westminster Foundation and Chance to Shine which will help us to strengthen and expand our work in both Westminster & Cheshire West.

The partnership will see the Westminster Foundation provide a £500,000 grant to support the expansion of Chance to Shine’s core cricket programmes. Each year this grant will support Chance to Shine to work in 40 Primary Schools, six Secondary Schools and deliver four all-year-round Street projects in disadvantaged communities and support thousands of children and young people.

The Chance to Shine Schools programme takes cricket to state primary schools, where coaches deliver a six-week block of sessions aiming to help children develop a positive relationship with sport and their wider well-being. In Secondary schools, the charity delivers cricket sessions focussed on helping girls to develop their leaderships skills, giving them the skills to run an after-school club with their peers.

Chance to Shine Street takes cricket to areas where children and young people have fewer opportunities to play, in venues that are safe and easily accessible. Sessions are free, run all year round and coaches focus on developing life skills as well as a passion for cricket.

Kate Brown, Director of the Westminster Foundation said “Having recently attended a Street Cricket programme I’ve seen first-hand the incredible impact the sessions have on the young people they support. By giving young people access to play cricket, Chance to Shine’s programmes hugely boost the self-confidence of those who may otherwise not engage in sport. Chance to Shine is an excellent charity with a brilliant track record of engaging hard to reach young people in sport, so we are very excited to support them.”

Laura Cordingley, Chief Executive of Chance to Shine Chief said “Chance to Shine is delighted to form a five-year partnership with the Westminster Foundation to expand our core cricket programmes in Westminster and Cheshire West. The partnership will support our coaches to deliver high quality cricket sessions and continuously enable children and young people to develop a positive relationship with sport for many years to come. We will be able to support thousands of disadvantaged children and young people who face increased barriers to playing sport and give them opportunities to thrive, build confidence and raise their aspirations. This impact would not be possible without the support of the Westminster Foundation so a huge thank you once again.”