Last week Chance to Shine held their Regional Street cricket finals, with the winners qualifying for the National finals later this summer.
Street Cricket clubs from across England and Wales were brought together by Chance to Shine for the finals, which provide young people the opportunity to compete in a friendly and inclusive environment.
Using data, Chance to Shine locate Street clubs in the most under-served communities in England and Wales, to ensure our participants are those who need them most.
Overall, 1000 young people aged 8-24 were playing in the finals, from Wearmouth, in Sunderland, all the way down to Bognor Regis on the south coast.
A huge congratulations goes to Biddenham’s U12s and U15s; YAV Sunderland; Blackburn’s U12s and U15s, Wrekin U12s, Bordesley U15s, Northants’ U12s, Derbyshire U15s, Sheffield U15s and Buckinghamshire U15s, who all won their regional final, and qualified for the Nationals!
At the finals, teams played a fast paced, exciting format of the game, with a tapeball and plastic bats. Matches were 20 balls a side and four balls per over and players learnt the values of team spirit, healthy competition and sportsmanship.
The charity welcomed former England star and now Yorkshire T20 captain Dawid Malan to the Yorkshire Regional finals, held at the Bradford Dome. “Anything that involves giving opportunities to young boys and girls is one of the most important things in life, so Chance to Shine should be really proud of what they do,” said Malan, who spent the day supporting the players and sharing his skills.
And for Hamid, a Pakistani who arrived in the UK last year, Street cricket and the Regional finals have provided him with a community, and a sense of achievement from playing. “I feel good when I play,” said a quietly impassioned Hamid. “In my team a lot of my teammates speak the same language as me, so it’s more comfortable.
“Playing cricket makes me feel proud because I feel like a professional!” Without his Chance to Shine Street club, he may not have had these benefits.
Hamid’s coach, Hassan Hussain, summed up the tournament: “The teamwork skills, the communication skills, the confidence they’re gaining is brilliant, and at events like this today they get to showcase it, it’s amazing.”
Running year round, the 300 free-to-access Street clubs put on by Chance to Shine provide opportunities for young people from under-served communities to play and develop through cricket. Without Street clubs, many participants would not be able to access the game and compete.
Last year, 91% of Street clubs were based in the most under-served areas of England and Wales. Using data from the Index of Multiple Deprivation and Free School Meal data, Chance to Shine can determine the areas which need a Street club most.
The charity locates Street clubs according to this data, while also considering the proximity to any nearby cricket hubs (traditional clubs, national programmes, MCC Foundation hubs) and by identifying areas were young people have the most barriers to being active. The charity is determined to help young people who otherwise would not be able to play cricket and wants to go even further.
By 2028, via their ‘Limitless Futures’ campaign, Chance to Shine aims to reach 1 million young people per year and to further prioritise under-served communities, so more children like Hamid can feel a sense of belonging and be inspired by cricket.
