Sam Armour Trusts & Foundations Manager Expand Sam joined Chance to Shine as Trusts & Foundations Manager in June 2021. He has eight years of experience in the fundraising sector for local, national and international charities. This includes roles at Sue Ryder, Richard House Children’s Hospice and Sense International. Sport is Sam’s passion and he continues to play cricket and tennis at his local clubs in Surrey. Sam also loves to travel and rates Bolivia, Guatemala, Australia and India as his favourites countries. However, he’s equally happy at home on the sofa watching sport (Rugby, Football, Cricket, Tennis – any ball sport really!) or a comedy/drama show on Netflix. [email protected]
Charlie Baxter Corporate Partnerships Manager Expand Charlie became Chance to Shine's first dedicated Corporate Partnerships Manager in December 2019. He has nine years experience in corporate partnerships with roles at The Prince's Trust, the RNLI and most recently at British Red Cross. Prior to his work in fundraising Charlie spent ten years working in outdoor and water-sports education, primarily with young people, giving him a strong understanding of the power of sport to change young lives. Charlie's limited on-field cricketing talents quickly led to him being asked to score, rather than play in, school matches. He is looking forward to developing partnerships that will ensure children and young people get the most out of their experience with cricket. [email protected]
Sam Cope Senior Digital Communications Officer Expand Sam joined Chance to Shine in April 2022. An experienced online marketer, and self described technology geek, he loves creating content and finding innovative new ways to deliver campaigns. Sam lives in Devon, and enjoys walking, cycling and running on nearby Dartmoor, as well as playing cricket with his local club. [email protected]
Taylor Cranmer Fundraising Assistant Expand Taylor joined Chance to Shine in July 2021 after completing her A Levels. Taylor is passionate about making a difference and supporting young people. During the Covid-19 lockdown, she completed a 5 month Internship with YMCA England and Wales (virtually) within the Individual Giving team having volunteered for YMCA during the summer holidays since she was 15. Taylor loves sport and attended dance school for 8 years, learning Tap, Street and Jazz. She also loves to play tennis and running - it is her mission to run the marathon for Chance to Shine one day! She also studied media at school and particularly loves editing videos. [email protected]
Jack Gold Finance & Office Assistant Expand Jack joined Chance to shine as Finance and Office Assistant in March 2021. Jack studied at Loughborough University where he gained a BSc in Maths and Sports Science along with taking any opportunity to get involved with sports. Outside of work Jack loves playing a variety of sports with cricket being his main focus. He has also recently discovered a passion for cycling and is currently waiting for summer to arrive to start enjoying both. Away from sport he enjoys reading and a regular series binge. [email protected]
Vanessa Greene Interim Chief Executive Expand Vanessa joined Chance to Shine in May 2016 as Director of Impact and Evaluation. An experienced researcher, Vanessa has an MSc in Social Research Methods and is interested in research that supports improved outcomes for children and young people. Prior to Chance to Shine, Vanessa worked as Senior Researcher at Pearson, the global education company, evaluating the impact of literacy programmes and vocational qualifications. Vanessa has also worked as Research Officer at the National Children’s Bureau where she carried out independent evaluations for the Department for Education and Department of Health. Vanessa became Interim Chief Executive in December 2022 [email protected]
Ian Gregory Schools Programme Manager Expand Ian joined Chance to Shine in November 2016 as Operations manager, having previously worked for Shropshire Cricket Board as Cricket Development Officer. In May 2022 he was appointed Schools Programme Manager. Ian studied at Loughborough University from 2006-2011, gaining a BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences as well as an MSc in Exercise Physiology. Ian’s life has revolved around the cricket & hockey pitches at Bridgnorth CC, having played at the club as a junior from the age of 7. Ian also supports as a coach at the club when time allows. Ian has a notable fashion sense, which involves the occasional pairing of odd socks when the CTS cameras are around. [email protected]Follow Ian on Twitter
James Hendry Operations Manager - North & Scotland Expand James joined Chance to Shine in July 2019 as Operations Manager for the North region. Having gained a Master of Arts in Sports Management from the University of Central Lancashire (2010), James spent six years working for Cheshire Cricket Board. Late to cricket by modern standards, James’ first memorable experiences of the game came at the age of 12 – playing his first season of junior cricket (which included his only five-wicket haul to date!), and attending the 1999 World Cup Final at Lords. Since then, his enthusiasm for cricket has spiraled! Away from work, James enjoys nothing more than taking the short walk from his home to Old Trafford, and watching the second best team in the city: Manchester United Football Club. On the rare occasion sport isn’t on his mind, James also has a passion for travel, cinema and technology! [email protected]
Kate Jacques Director of Fundraising Expand Kate joined Chance to Shine as Director of Partnerships and Fundraising in March 2016. She has 15 years fundraising experience gained through roles at Breast Cancer Now, The Children’s Society, Diabetes UK and most recently at Join In, the London 2012 legacy charity puts more volunteers into community sport. One of Kate’s career highlights was leading a team at Diabetes UK to secure a charity partnership with Tesco. The partnership engaged staff, customers and suppliers alike and in the first three years raised well over £25m, making a transformational difference to people living with diabetes. Kate enjoys cricket as a spectator from watching international games to cheering on her son at Grayshott Cricket Club. [email protected]
Ross Jeavons Director of Communications & Digital Expand Ross joined Chance to Shine as Director of Communications and Digital in 2019, stepping into the world of cricket for the first time having previously enjoyed over a decade working in football with Wycombe Wanderers, Reading and the English Football League. Prior to arriving at the charity, he also spent two weeks in Doha at the World Athletics Championships, helping to build the IAAF's digital strategy ahead of their rebrand to World Athletics. Despite his 'on field' cricketing achievements being consigned to primary school and the back garden, Ross is looking forward to focussing more on the impact that sport can make on younger people up and down the country. [email protected]
Holly Jones Communications & Digital Officer Expand Holly joined Chance to Shine in 2019 after completing a degree in Geography and International Development at the University of East Anglia. During her time at university she discovered an interest in the benefits of sport as a development tool, writing a dissertation on the success of sport-for-development programmes that educate young people on HIV/AIDS in Eastern and Southern Africa. Holly’s first month with Chance to Shine proved to be very busy as she volunteered at the 2019 Cricket World Cup where she danced at the opening party and got the chance to watch the incredible final at Lords! Outside of work, Holly enjoys cooking (and eating food!). Now living back in London after university, she is looking forward to using Instagram to find the best independent food spots and experimenting in the kitchen. [email protected]
Melda Kahraman Senior Impact & Evaluation Officer Expand Melda joined Chance to Shine in September 2019. Previously working as a social researcher in Ipsos Turkey, she managed research projects about various topics such as youth, children, gender equality, employment, health and business environment. Melda holds a BA in Sociology and is currently writing her thesis to finish her MA in NGO Management and Social Projects. Melda moved to London from Istanbul, Turkey with her family in the beginning of 2019. Coming from a different sporting culture where cricket is not played at all, Melda is finding it interesting to discover a new sport and its strong influence on empowering children and young people. [email protected]
Steve Peyman Director of Operations Expand Steve is Director of Operations at Chance to Shine and joined the charity in 2006 having previously worked at Sussex CCC as Development Director. Steve lives in Chichester with his family, and enjoys nothing more than watching his son play hockey, daughter perform song and dance on stage, mountain biking on the South Downs with his dog Dizzy and watching his beloved Liverpool FC. Unfortunately, Steve’s cricket and football days are no more following many injuries and operations, mainly to his left knee – 13 operations! In all, Steve has over 25 years’ experience in sports development, 19 of which have been dedicated to cricket. [email protected]
Nic Platt Director of Finance & Resources Expand Nic joined Chance to Shine in May 2017 after 7 years working at Locality, a charity who’s mission it is to inspire community action so that every neighbourhood thrives. Prior to Locality, Nic spent 8 years running his own business in the French Alps teaching and renting skibikes. He is a qualified skibike instructor and has been racing as part of the British Skibike Team for 20 years. Nic plays his cricket for the Islanders in a Last Man Stands 20:20 league, bowling surprisingly effective military medium and batting with a lot of bottom hand. [email protected]
Stuart Priscott Operations Manager - South West & Wales, South Central Expand Stuart is the Operations manager for Chance to Shine with responsibility for Wales, South West and South England. He has been with the charity since 2005 and believes, then as now, that every child should have the opportunity to play cricket at school as part of their education. He has fulfilled many roles in cricket both on and off the field, increasingly now as a parent watching his two young girls begin their cricketing journey. He is incredibly proud of the County Boards he works with and the many great people that bring our vision to life. He really understands the ‘power of cricket’ to change and improve lives having been diagnosed with a life limiting condition (cystic fibrosis) when young which was greatly ameliorated, both physically / and psychologically, by the opportunity to play cricket. That opportunity wouldn’t have been provided without having a state school that valued sport and a teacher (Pat Colbourne) who recognised his effort and desire. [email protected]
Les Rolt Finance Manager Expand Les is the Finance Manager for the charity, having been with Chance to Shine since 2014. Having spent time studying in the US, Les is currently working towards a degree in Applied Accounting and ACCA chartered accountancy certification at the London School of Business & Finance. Sports have always been a major interest for Les. Having been named Docklands Power League Player of the Season in 2016 he has retired from most forms of strenuous activity, and now spends his time providing a cab service for his two sons as they compete in cricket, football and cross country. Away from the office he enjoys nothing more than spending time with his boys, visiting castles, playing Fortnite, and watching the London Lions basketball team. Les is passionate about our projects, with a special fondness for the work we do in hospital schools, and is proud of the difference Chance to Shine had made to millions of children across the country. [email protected]
Rohan Randhawa Inclusive Programmes Manager Expand Rohan joined the Chance to Shine team in January 2022 as the Inclusive Programmes Manger with a focus on leading on the Street project nationally. His relationship with cricket started from an early age with his cricket loving father taking him to the local nets every day of the week throughout his younger years. He went on to graduate from Sheffield Hallam University with a first-class degree in BSc Sports Development & Coaching. Most recently he worked for Yorkshire Cricket Board as the Disability Development Manager where he worked tirelessly to ensure that cricket is a game for everyone. Rohan is thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in shaping Chance to Shines impactful strategies that results in changing thousands of young people’s life for the better through the power of cricket. [email protected]
Gabrielle Russell Major Gift Manager Expand Gaby joined Chance to Shine as the Major gift manager in June 2018. An enthusiastic fundraiser with expertise in leading the development of new strategic partnerships with Major Donors and Corporates, along with previous experience in the world of Direct Fundraising. The past 12 years’ worth of experience was gained through roles at Oxfam Great Britain, with the majority of time spent at Oxfam Australia, with a shorter contract at Oxfam Thailand and International Women’s Development Agency. Quite the global traveller having spent much of the past 10 years living overseas in Australia with a stint in Bangkok, Gaby is now back on her home ground of Surrey and finally learning all there is to know about cricket! In her first week at Chance to Shine her lunchtime view was of a match celebrating the 150 year anniversary tribute to the first Aboriginal team that played against England, which felt like the perfect welcome home, from her two homes. [email protected]
Zoya Zia Senior Impact & Evaluation Officer Expand Zoya joined Chance to Shine as Senior Impact and Evaluation Officer in November 2021. Originally from Pakistan and Texas, Zoya has found her place in between. She moved to London in 2020 to study her MSc Human Rights and Politics at the London School of Economics. Previously, she received her BA in International Relations at the University of Texas at Austin, where she became fluent in Arabic and conducted research in Mexico City and Bangkok. She is excited to join Chance to Shine and hopes to understand the impact of cricket on young people today, a time fraught with uncertainty. In particular, she is interested in the relationship between sport and children's rights worldwide, deeply inspired by the likes of Colin Kaepernick, Naomi Osaka and Marcus Rashford. She also enjoys following her team, the San Antonio Spurs, reading and writing poetry and watching global TV and cinema. [email protected]
Rosy Cooley Major Gifts Officer Expand Rosy joined Chance to Shine in August 2022 as a Major Gifts Officer with the fundraising team. While still getting to grips with the laws of cricket, they have a real passion for making a difference in peoples’ lives. After completing an MA in History at King’s College London, they found themselves in a career path within development and fundraising. They are a vocal advocate for creating spaces and platforms for underrepresented voices, and they are looking forward to bringing this to every project they take on at Chance to Shine. In their spare time, Rosy loves learning new things such as recipes, languages, and crafts. They also love creative writing and watching films, either on the big screen or at home with their pet axolotl - Noodle. [email protected]
Ellie Edwards Special Events Manager Expand Originally from Wales, Ellie joined Chance to Shine at the end of 2022 as Special Events Manager and brings with her a wealth of experience and knowledge in the Sport for Good sector. Ellie most recently held both events and fundraising roles at The Harlequins Foundation, where she enjoyed using the power of sport to create memorable experiences and events to bring about meaningful change. Her most recent role was as Fundraising Manager at Restart Rugby, the official charity of the Rugby Players Association where she managed the fundraising and events programme to support rugby players facing serious injury, illness and hardship. Ellie is new to the cricket world but is excited about delving into a new sport and learning about the huge benefits cricket affords to young people. Ellie is passionate about mental and physical wellbeing and played rugby for seven years before retiring and now plays in a local social netball league for fun. Ellie also enjoys brunches with friends and listening to comedy podcasts. [email protected]
Charlie Wood Events & Partnerships Officer Expand Charlie graduated from Oxford Brookes University, studying Business & Management. Since graduating, Charlie has predominantly worked in commercial roles before joining Chance to Shine. He loves forming meaningful relationships with people and creating opportunities to use sport for good. Charlie is a sport-lover and spends his free time participating in and watching running, cycling, football and cricket. Cricket has always been a part of Charlie's life. He joined his local club aged four and continues to play club cricket today. Sport has given Charlie so much, and he is delighted to be able to play a small part in enabling more people to reap the benefits of being active and being part of a team. [email protected]