STREET CRICKET

WHY DO WE OFFER STREET CRICKET?

We feel that every child, no matter where they live, should have the opportunity to play cricket. Chance to Shine Street is focussed in areas with a lack of accessible clubs and green spaces; it aims to make cricket accessible to young people throughout the country.

Street cricket offers a different way into the sport, with 74% of players not part of a traditional cricket club when they joined the sessions. Some - around 1 in 10 - do go on to play at a traditional cricket club or enter park-based T20 leagues but for most the Street project becomes their club. 

The projects run after-school or at weekends, they are completely free, players don’t need to bring any equipment and can wear whatever they like. The sessions run in sports halls, youth clubs, parks and community centres for two mixed age groups - Youths (8–16) and Young Adults (16–24) – and in some locations we run female-only sessions too.

COMPETITION

All participants involved in Chance to Shine Street projects have the opportunity to take part in local competitions against other nearby projects in the school holidays, with the possibility of progressing to regional and then national competitions each year. We hold Under-15 and Under-12 age-group mixed competitions as well as a girls only competition.

We also run weekly young adult leagues in some towns and cities with opportunities to progress to regional and national competitions for league winners. The chance to compete against others from across the country is something which they relish, and equally as important as testing themselves against the best in the country is the opportunity to make new friends and to visit new places.

WHO DOES CHANCE TO SHINE REACH?

Chance to Shine Street is bringing the game to some of the most disadvantaged areas the country, two thirds of our projects based in the most deprived areas and the sessions provide them with an alternative to hanging out on the streets or sitting at home in front of the TV.

75% of young people who attend Street are from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Street is helping to break down social barriers and integrate people into their local area. In a survey of 658 Street participants, 78% said “I have met people from different backgrounds” and four fifths agreed “I have made new friends”.

DEVELOPING LEADERS

We’re incredibly proud of the fact that 34% of coaches that lead established Chance to Shine Street projects were previously participants or volunteers. Having coaches that come from similar backgrounds is incredibly inspiring for the young cricketers and 92% of participants said “I look up to my coach”, whilst 91% said “My coach inspires to do my best”.

If you are interested in attending a Chance to Shine Street cricket project, click here to fill in a contact form. 

Please note this list is not exhaustive and Street projects can change venues at short notice. 

It's fun and it's healthy and I also like socialising with others and I enjoy playing cricket. - Female Chance to Shine Street cricketer, age 11

WE WANT TO TAKE CHANCE TO SHINE STREET TO 100 NEW LOCATIONS

CAN YOU HELP?

Street cricket is completely free for participants. All coaching, facilities and equipment is provided free of charge. Can you help us to inspire thousands more children through cricket? Street gives young people the chance to have their own cricket club all year round, right on their doorstep. It costs £7,000 to fund a Street project for 12 months. The ECB are match-funding donations, meaning anything we receive will go twice as far! In total, we need to raise £350,000 to fund 100 new projects.

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