England captain and Ashes trophy help make girls feel like they're one in a million

Only a few days after winning back the Ashes, England women's cricket captain Charlotte Edwards went back to school last week to inspire the next generation of Ashes winners. She was also celebrating the news that the Chance to Shine schools' cricket campaign is on the verge of reaching its one millionth girl.

The milestone will be reached during the autumn school term (currently at 983,000) and Charlotte visited The Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe last week (4th September) with a special companion: the Ashes Trophy. She took part in a special cricketing session with the girls' cricket team and the girls also had the chance to get their hands on the trophy.

Talking about the upcoming milestone Charlotte said, "It's fantastic that Chance to Shine is about to reach its one millionth girl. As coaching ambassadors we take real pride in inspiring young girls to take up this great game. I would have loved one of the England players to come to my school when I was a girl."

"I've won a lot of things in women's cricket but this is the best thing I have ever been involved in."

The visit was part of Charlotte work as a coaching ambassador for Chance to Shine. Seven of the England team work as ambassadors for the charitable campaign to keep cricket alive in schools. They are not central contracts but are designed to give the players the flexibility to train and play international cricket while earning a living. A partnership with England & Wales Cricket Board allows the coaching ambassadors to act as role models to inspire thousands more schoolchildren, especially girls, to play cricket.

Charlotte Edwards, Lydia Greenway, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Heather Knight, Beth Morgan and Susie Rowe support Chance to Shine through coaching, training teachers and delivering assemblies. They play a major role in promoting the development of girls' cricket. Last year, the England Women coached 15,000 girls through Chance to Shine.

Since 2005, Chance to Shine has brought cricket and its educational benefits to 7,000 state schools and has educated over two million children through cricket. This term the programme will reach its one millionth girl. The programme costs £5million a year to run, the equivalent of £15 per child.

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Chance to Shine is a national cricket charity that works in state schools and communities to spread the power of cricket. We believe that all children should be given the opportunity to play and learn through cricket. We believe that cricket teaches children valuable skills like communication, teamwork and respect that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.
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Chance to Shine work in state primary schools across England and Wales supporting schools to deliver cricket coaching to their pupils. We teach cricket in primary schools and support teachers with free resources including lesson plans, videos and tips from the professionals.
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Chance to Shine believes in how the power of cricket can help children from state schools and deprived communities. We know that many children are missing out on the benefits of physical eduction particularly girls, those from a BAME background and from a lower socio-economic background.
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We provide competition opportunities for children in state secondary schools. We have also developed a set of digital resources for teachers. Chance to Shine will also deliver a girls' cricket programme in secondary schools, training young leaders and developing life skills through playing the sport.
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Chance to Shine is an independent charity that works to spread the power of cricket in schools and communities across the country. Set up as the Cricket Foundation, the charity aims to provide opportunities in state schools and deprived communities.