This week, national children’s cricket charity Chance to Shine turns 15 years old. The charity, launched in 2005, was founded by Lord King of Lothbury; broadcaster Mark Nicholas and cricket equipment manufacturer Duncan Fearnley.

The three agreed that something needed to be done to reinvigorate state school cricket and ensure that all children were given the opportunity to play and benefit from the sport that they loved. England’s Andrew Strauss and Matthew Hoggard officially launched the first Chance to Shine School on 24 May in Bethnal Green, London.

Since then, over 4 million children in more than 16,000 state schools and communities have been given the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket. As well as creating opportunities for young people to play cricket, Chance to Shine uses the sport to support children’s physical, social, mental and personal wellbeing. 

This week, the charity will be revisiting some key moments in its history, as well as sharing some of the amazing and inspiring stories of the impact the charity has had.

Since the start of the COVID-19 national lockdown, the charity has focussed its efforts on supporting teachers and parents to keep children active through digital cricket sessions, made available every week, that can be used in the home, with limited space and equipment.

Laura Cordingley, Chief Executive at Chance to Shine said: “15 years is a major milestone for the charity. We’re all incredibly proud of the work that has been done to give millions of children the chance to benefit from this brilliant sport. It’s so important that children are given a chance to experience playing cricket and, through doing so, to unlock the life-changing impact that the sport has. We are looking forward to what can be achieved with another 15 years of Chance to Shine.”

“I’d like to thank our key long-term funding partners the ECB, Sport England and Charity Partner NatWest for their incredible support for Chance to Shine, without them, none of this would have been possible. We’ve also received some amazing support from corporate partners, individual donors, trusts and foundations whose generosity has helped so many young people to grow and to develop through playing cricket.”