Hundreds of thousands of children and young people will get the opportunity to play and learn through cricket, thanks to a new partnership between NatWest and Chance to Shine announced today (Monday 8 May).

NatWest is becoming Chance to Shine's first ever official charity partner in a four-year deal that is the biggest commercial partnership in the charity's history.

NatWest will mobilise its 60,000 staff and 16 million customers to raise funds for Chance to Shine through a range of fundraising initiatives.

The partnership is at the heart of NatWest's new Cricket Has No Boundaries campaign that celebrates cricket's inclusivity and the positive contribution it can have on society. The campaign will be the first undertaken by NatWest as it assumes its new role as Principal Partner of England Cricket.

Speaking at today's NatWest launch, Chance to Shine Chief Executive Luke Swanson said, Drawing on its enduring commitment to the game, NatWest shares our conviction that cricket can be a powerful vehicle to bring communities together and help young people succeed. This partnership will make real difference to our mission, and we are proud to work alongside NatWest and ECB to make cricket available, accessible and fun for all kinds of young people, whatever their background or ability.

Vice President and co-founder of Chance to Shine Mark Nicholas added, NatWest's long association with cricket has never been more relevant or exciting. The game benefits people in every way but most specifically those who play it, or aspire to, have the support that helps to fulfil their dreams. Chance to Shine achieves great things but only because of remarkable partnerships - and this is the best example of those - that give the charity the wings to fly.

Martyn Wilson, Head of Sponsorship at NatWest said, Chance to Shine is an organisation that is doing some fabulous work to make cricket more inclusive and to engage different and diverse communities. We believe that cricket has no boundaries and Chance to Shine are showing that cricket should be for everyone regardless of age, gender or race. What we love about Chance to Shine is that it opens cricket up to everybody and this is something that we at NatWest firmly believe in.

Further details of the partnership with NatWest will be announced over the course of this summer.

Chance to Shine has brought cricket to over 3 million boys and girls in 13,000 state schools and 150 Street projects since 2005. Read more about the impact we are having on young lives in our latest updates.