Cricket Foundation launches schools campaign

The Cricket Foundation has set a target of raising £50m for its new schools cricket campaign called Chance to Shine.

During the campaign – part of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) strategic plan to increase children’s participation in cricket – the Foundation will work closely with the 38 County Cricket Boards to deliver cricket programmes through clubs and their teams of coaches.

Each coaching team is expected to teach cricket in an average of six schools and offer regular playing opportunities to to both boys and girls.

The programmes will consist of continuous coaching, skills awards and organised matches.

Nick Gandon, director of the Cricket Foundation, said: “We are not planning a one-hit wonder.

“We intend to build sustainable cricket cultures in each of the schools where our coaches will operate and that is not done overnight. Coaches will have contact with every school for about four hours per week throughout the summer term.”

The money will be spent over 10 years and 12 pilot programmes have already been set up for this year.

The Cricket Foundation said it plans to involve 5,200 primary schools and 1,500 secondary schools over the next 10 years.

It has also appointed London-based agency LMC Design to market the initiative for businesses. Details: www.cricketfoundation.org