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In conjunction with the Thurrock School Sport Partnership, we have finalised plans to deliver the Cricket Foundation's 'Chance to Shine' programme for 2012. This is the first year of a structured four-year programme which will see our qualified coaches provide cricket tuition as part of the school curriculum, as well as facilitating cricket matches between schools, (which includes the highly popular ASDA Kwik Cricket festivals, which are open to all junior schools, regardless of whether they are in the 'Chance to Shine' scheme). 20 schools in our borough are participating in the project for 2012 compared to just seven 7 in 2011, and around 400-500 children will benefit from cricket education and coaching that would not otherwise be available.
Cliff Cansdale, the Belhus CC administrator of 'Chance to Shine', says,
"In the current financial climate, it's amazing that we have been able to secure more funding than last year and we must thank the Cricket Foundation for their backing. Already we have seen an increase in the number of young players entering club cricket as a direct result of our coaching in local schools. We are exploring the possibility of extending our delivery still further for 2012, but this will depend upon securing additional funding".
Steve Peyman, Operations Director at the Cricket Foundation, said,
"Our clubs are the backbone of 'Chance to Shine' and are critical to the success of the programme. Club organisers help to coordinate the delivery of high quality coaching and, as a result, thousands of children have joined local clubs over the first seven years of the scheme. The Cricket Foundation believes that team sports, and cricket in particular, can help youngsters develop as people as cricket promotes leadership and teamwork and teaches youngsters how to win and lose respectfully, giving opportunities for both girls and boys".
Cliff Cansdale Gavin Jefferies
Belhus CC 'Chance to Shine' Administrator and Coach
Steve Peyman Graeme Swann
The Cricket Foundation England
Many people within sport and government have positive things to say about 'Chance to Shine'. England's Graeme Swann said,
" I went to a school which didn't play cricket but I was lucky enough to have been given the opportunity by my Dad. But there were millions of youngsters who were never given the opportunity to play and that was sad. What 'Chance to Shine' has done is fantastic and if through them, we can unearth another Ian Botham or Freddie Flintoff then that's great, but the main aim is just to get more people playing from an early age and encourage them to take part at whatever level they are comfortable with".
Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics said,
"'Chance to Shine' has, and continues to be, a tremendous success. It is one of the most successful grassroots initiatives in this country that many other sports can learn lessons from".
In January, East Tilbury Junior School was the first
school in the borough to benefit from the 2012
coaching programme under the 'Chance to Shine' scheme
Belhus CC is one of only a handful of clubs in Essex to participate in the 'Chance to Shine' scheme, and thanks are due to administrator, Cliff Cansdale, the Essex County Cricket Board representatives Patrick Ward and Christopher Drummond and
Alexa Joel of the TSSP, as well as our qualified coaches Terry Hills, Gavin Jefferies and Martin Davis.
'Chance to Shine' is the Cricket Foundation's £50 million charitable campaign designed to revitalise cricket in state schools throughout the UK. It is supported financially by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Brit Insurance, Slazenger, The Lord's Taverners and the MCC as well as many other companies and private individuals and the Government (through Sport England).
For full information about the C2S scheme - the largest single, school sports development programme ever undertaken in Britain
(and to make a donation if you wish), please visit their website at... Chance to Shine.
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