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MAYOR OF LONDON VISITS GRAFTON PRIMARY SCHOOL WITH CHANCE 2 SHINE

Sadiq Khan goes out to bat for young Londoners

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visited Grafton Primary school on Friday 21 September to announce new funding for Chance to Shine Street projects in the capital. Joining him were two England legends, Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight, who took part in some Street cricket games with the school pupils.

The Mayor was shown how to wrap a tapeball by Chance to Shine and Middlesex Cricket Board Coach Raj Nath before facing some demon-bowling from the school pupils.

The Mayor’s Young Londoner’s Fund has awarded £100,000 to the Chance to Shine Street programme, which brings together young people living in some of London’s most diverse and disadvantaged communities.

The one-year funding grant will help Chance to Shine deliver 11 free tapeball cricket projects across London for children and young adults aged eight to 24.

The charity will also deliver a series of educational workshops, from health and wellbeing to crime and safety. Following a successful pilot in Birmingham, Chance to Shine will also expand its crime prevention programme into London schools. The charity will use cricket to help engage pupils at risk of exclusion and help them understand the risks and consequences of criminal behaviour.

Chance to Shine Street is a fast, fun and free format of the game played using a tapeball – a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape. Innings last 20 balls and games take around 20 minutes to complete. There is no need for expensive protective equipment and the games take place in a safe environment. 85% of the Street cricketers don’t play at a traditional club when they start but many transition to hard-ball cricket after playing at a Street session.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “The thing about cricket, the things to cherish, are the skills that are transferable off the pitch: how to be in a team, how to be a leader, to be magnanimous in victory and dignified in defeat.

“I’ve been so impressed with the work Chance to Shine are doing. Working in schools and deprived communities across London, giving access to young people to a sport they wouldn’t otherwise have had access to, a sport that I think is one of the best sports in the world!”

Laura Cordingley, Chief Executive at Chance to Shine, said “We’re delighted that the Mayor’s Young Londoners Fund will be supporting Chance to Shine Street for the next 12 months. This will ensure that we can provide positive, accessible and local opportunities for children and young adults to play cricket. Offering a safe space to play cricket, helping them to develop, make new friends and to feel more integrated within their communities.

“We believe that the power of cricket can help young people learn important skills like teamwork, communication and resilience that will benefit them throughout their lives.”

To find out more about Street cricket click HERE

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