Pupils at Clare Mount Specialist Sports College were joined by Chance to Shine ambassadors Chris Edwards and Georgie Boyce on Wednesday afternoon, as celebrations for Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week continued.

Youngsters were treated to a fast paced ‘Countdown Cricket’ session, led by England Learning Disability captain Edwards – who recently received the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

The secondary special school is based in Moreton, Wirral and aims to help children flourish with tailored support from year 7 all the way through to sixth form.

Pupil Katie Jones, aged 15, said: “I love the way that cricket brings people together, and it gets people that don’t usually talk to each other talking to each other and being mates – even if it’s just for 20 minutes! It helps me talk to people, it helps my communication skills, hand eye coordination and has definitely built my confidence.”

Chris Edwards said: “We were delivering to children with specific learning difficulties, who are ultimately being inspired by cricket. Playing the game has a huge impact on social development, self-esteem, and communication. It helps them to improve massively.”

North West Thunder star Georgie Boyce said: “It was a great session. My cricketing career started through my PE teacher and Chance to Shine, so I know how great this could be for the kids. Everyone should have the access to play sport, regardless of any disability. Everyone should have equal opportunity.”

Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week (21-25 June) sees children up and down the country get involved playing and learning through cricket. It's an opportunity to celebrate the sport, to inspire children to take part in cricketing activities and to showcase the work that Chance to Shine does in bringing the game to hundreds of thousands of children every year.