Stories behind
Volume 4
CASE STUDIES VOL.4
Our Vision
WELCOME
All young people have the opportunity to play and learn through cricket
A
t Chance to Shine, we have a simple goal: to inspire all young people to play and learn through cricket.
More often than not, those young people inspire us. This little booklet shows you why: the players, team members, students, teachers and coaches you’ll meet are the strongest possible testament to the power of sport to make a difference in young lives. That goal may be simple to state, but it’s hard to achieve. We’re deeply proud of the tremendous reach and impact of our programmes, but we’re a long way from our goal of inspiring all young people. If you’ve helped us get this far, thank you. And if you can help us go further, please do get in touch. You will make the most enormous difference to the next generation of Calebs, Nathans, Rosies, Lilys, Rehaans and Soyfurs.
CONTENTS 4 The Big Numbers 6 Building A Brighter Future 8 Making Strides 9 Helping Those With Disabilities 10 Angels Of The North 12 Going Big In Bristol 14 Mancunian Mentor 16 A Captain In The Making 17 Clubbing Together 18 These Girls Can 20 Northern Souls 22 The Game Of Life 24 Driving Ambition 25 Cricket Unlocked In Camden 26 Mimi’s Story 28 Grounds For Optimism 30 More Than A Game 31 From Football Mad To Cricket Crazy 32 The Grass Is Greener 33 Muskan’s Magic 34 Soyfur Rahman: What I’ve Learned Designed and produced by Trinorth Communications. www.trinorth.co.uk
Luke Swanson Chief Executive, Chance to Shine
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CASE STUDIES VOL.4
77%
IN NUMBERS 84%
of teachers in Chance to Shine schools believe cricket helps their students to learn teamwork and co-operation
of Chance to Shine participants were able to demonstrate the MCC Spirit of Cricket values of teamwork, sportsmanship and respect
50% 4
of Chance to Shine Street coaches were originally participants
82%
of Street participants are from BME backgrounds
percentage of female Chance to Shine Schools participants
46%
434,094 boys and girls participated in Chance to Shine Schools coaching and competitions in the 2015/16 academic year
90%
of Chance to Shine Street participants were not members of cricket clubs when they joined the programme
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CASE STUDIES VOL.4
BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE A child’s domestic and family environment is a situation beyond their own control – yet one that has a fundamental impact on their personality, behaviour and performance at school. Dealing with young children struggling in school because of problems at home is no easy task. Mr Plews, head of PE at a primary school in Nottingham, is one of many staff who is grateful for the work Chance to Shine does in schools to bring some joy and excitement into these young people’s lives, allowing them to channel their energies positively, into a game that also benefits their overall life skills. Mr Plews highlights one case in particular as a prime example of the positive impact cricket can have on a struggling child. The boy in question, now 11 years old and moving on to secondary school, didn’t cause staff any trouble until Year 5 of his education, when his mother and father separated in traumatic circumstances. The boy’s sisters left the school and went to live with their mother, but the father, to Plews’ surprise, retained custody of his son. Staff quickly noticed deterioration in his behaviour; in particular a tendency to use violence to deal with any situation.
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Sport had always been something the young boy had enjoyed, and so Plews saw an opportunity to involve him in the school’s Chance to Shine cricket programme – which includes a cricket session every day of the week – towards the end of Year 5. Through his participation in the sessions, Plews noticed the boy’s natural talent for the game, but also an improvement in behaviour through positive interaction with his fellow pupils in a sporting environment. Six weeks spent at home over the summer holidays seemed to undo all the progress he had made, however. His attendance, as Plews put it, was “shocking” at the beginning of Year 6, and resulted in the boy leaving his father to go and live with a foster family. Cricket, it seemed, was the only positive outlet for someone who would usually “use his fists before anything else” to solve his problems – and who, having been allowed to roam free with 15- and 16-year-old kids from his estate as and when he pleased, had become involved in some serious acts of vandalism, and being sought out by the police. Plews used a place in the school cricket side as motivation for the boy to improve
To protect the anonymity of the pupil in question, names and minor details have been changed.
his behaviour, and as time went on he began to break away from the mistakes of his past to focus on maintaining his spot in the school team. But the biggest breakthrough was yet to come: Plews, a coach at the local cricket club, had advertised the club’s junior sessions to children at the school, and was surprised and delighted in equal measure to see the boy turn up to one with his foster parents. The session was the first time the boy had had any interaction with someone in a sporting capacity who wasn’t his PE teacher. With ‘respect’ such an important issue on the boy’s estate, Plews celebrates the boy’s move to distance himself from his previous activities as “a very brave step to take.” Plews now hopes that his former pupil will continue to develop both as an individual and a cricketer as he moves on to secondary school. What is certain is that the Chance to Shine Schools programme operating in his primary school helped to move him away from a path of violence and onto a happier one – by improving his social interaction and fostering a positive competitive attitude through cricket.
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MAKING STRIDES Cricket is having a major impact on the life of Josh Hughes, an 11-year-old pupil at Gwersyltt Community Primary School in Wales.
cricket star of the school he doesn’t need to do that. He’s got some great friends and his confidence has gone through roof.”
“Josh came to us in Year 4 and it was difficult for him as all the lads had been together for a few years and already made friends,” explained Greg McAteer, Josh’s teacher. “He found it difficult to integrate and make bonds.”
Another breakthrough came when Josh decided to go to the local cricket club. “When Josh first came to us he was very quiet,” said Dale Jones, who coaches at Gwersyllt CC.
Mr McAteer soon saw how the power of cricket can help students. “Year 5 had a Kwik Cricket tournament coming up which was organised by Chance to Shine,” said Mr McAteer. “We’d seen that Josh was an athletic lad, he could throw and catch. He’d never thought of playing cricket before but he had a storming game!” Soon the whole school was talking about him. “He ran 20 yards and caught the ball inches from the ground; he became a school celebrity overnight. These acrobatic catches are now known as ‘doing a Josh’,” laughs Mr Mcateer. “He’s changed his own opinion of himself; he walks around school with his head up, and the children think the world of him.” A dramatic change in his behaviour followed. “Josh’s way of trying to fit in was to make people laugh but since he’s become the
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HELPING THOSE WITH DISABILITIES “He looked keen but didn’t have the confidence to get involved. But he’s since come to training every week.” The team has benefited too, thanks to their new player. “From the first session he was hitting the ball into the trees,” said Dale. “He’s much more confident and outgoing since he started playing cricket – he’s now the kid everyone loves and he talks to everyone.” Josh’s teachers and his new club are hoping he will continue to develop and that the Chance to Shine schools programme can continue operating in his school and unearth more young people like Josh. “He’s a completely different boy,” adds Josh’s foster mum, Sonia. “His mood swings have died down. He used to kick off, but now he doesn’t! He’s made lots of friends, he’s more outgoing, more confident in every way. He just loves cricket. It’s his life.”
Gwersyltt Cricket Club is a special place. And that’s before you notice the group of players going through their drills on the outfield. Under the coach Jamie Griffiths, up to 10 cricketers regularly attend the Wrexham-based club where Gwersyltt Disability Cricket Hub is thriving. But then that’s hardly a surprise. Chance to Shine runs disability projects across the country, providing cricket opportunities to hundreds of young disabled people. Parents and teachers alike credit cricket with helping those with disabilities develop their fitness, social and interpersonal skills. They learn how to share, to work as a team and build friendships. “For three years I’d been doing a lunchtime session at St Christopher’s School, a local special school,” explains Jamie. “The kids showed interest so we started doing sessions at Gwersyltt. We asked the cricket club if they would get involved and they have been absolutely fantastic.” The success on the pitch has been extraordinary too. Out of the ten regular attendees, three represent the Wales disability side. “The way they socialise with each other is great to see. After the session
they go into the club and they’re always smiling. And they keep coming back.” He adds that there’s a real sense of togetherness about the group. “They just get on with it! When they move onto the skills they all buzz off each other and give each other high fives.” The overwhelming feeling from the parents is that Jamie is doing something very special. Eileen Vickers, whose son Greg, 34, is one of the hub’s success stories, says: “Greg was a really good cricketer when he was about 14.” In 2005 Greg was found lying lifeless in a road following a night out. He spent 15 months in hospital. Doctors gave him little chance of recovery. Greg suffered six skull fractures. To this day his family or the police have no idea what happened but his continuing success at cricket has provided a huge comfort. “He joined the RAF and was home on leave when he was involved in an accident. He had a stroke and received frontal lobe damage,” says Eileen. “We’re very grateful that this allows him to keep playing one of the sports he loved at a level he can manage. He’s got a new circle of friends and mixes with new people.”
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ANGELS OF THE NORTH Rosie and Lily Grant are two of the brightest prospects in Durham’s academy, and love playing the new game they’ve discovered. Their first taste of cricket came through sessions put on by Chance to Shine and Shotley Bridge CC – Paul Collingwood’s club – during PE lessons at their primary school, and both girls have been grateful for the opportunity to play sport more seriously. “It was really good to feel that we were properly playing. It was the whole class that did it, and to be able to do it with the boys rather than separate made it feel more equal,” says Rosie. While cricket is still a sport which all too few girls are playing, it’s a central plank of Chance to Shine’s mission to reverse this situation, as Lily notes: “It’s good for girls to get the opportunity. There’s not really very many girls compared to all the boys that do it.” Cricket has also been a great outlet for both girls socially, with their successes on the field matched by their enjoyment. “They’ve made a lot of new friends,” says mum Julia. “That’s why we like it so much because they enjoy it a lot.” The sisters did more than just compete and enjoy themselves, with their abilities marking them out from the rest of their peers. Coach Phil Melons, who ran those
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first sessions, adds that they had “the talent and a natural ambition to play cricket more” which shone through. Lily and Rosie are both amazed at how far they’ve come. “I always thought that to play for Durham you had to be really really good, and better than I was,” says Lily. “I never thought I would actually get a place at Durham,” adds Rosie. While both girls have certainly earned their places at the club, they recognise the role that Chance to Shine has played in their development. Rosie, who was the leading wicket-taker for Durham under 15s last year, says: “Without the charity we probably wouldn’t be here playing for the county today.”
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It was really good that we were properly playing. To do it with the boys rather than separate made it more equal www.chancetoshine.org
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GOING BIG IN BRISTOL Anyone who follows professional cricketers on Twitter will be aware of the significance of Nando’s in the modern game. But as well as being popular with the game’s elite, the eat-quick Portuguese chicken restaurant is being used for cricket’s good in a very different way. As part of the Chance to Shine Street Project in Easton, Bristol, the programme’s most committed young cricketers are rewarded with vouchers for a meal out at a local branch of the nationwide chain – just one way of helping to give the young people involved a sense of achievement, satisfaction and happiness. The Easton project – run with the Gloucestershire Cricket Board – is remarkable in a number of ways, having recently taken on a cohort of new Afghan arrivals. When Chris Munden, the cricket board’s project and programmes manager, was contacted with a request 18 months ago from social worker Anna Sopwith, he welcomed four new under 16 boys on to the Street programme. Not only were they talented cricketers being given an opportunity to play the game they love, they
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were also learning important language and social skills. In an already ethnically mixed group with boys of Indian, Pakistani and Caribbean heritage, the Afghan lads were welcomed warmly, the group mixed well and the Afghan incomers were beginning to pick up some English and in turn becoming more outgoing.
Although creating Bristol Aghans CC presents numerous challenges, including finding a home ground to play on, Munden insists there is momentum behind the project, with the youngsters and their community keen to continue to play the game they feel so strongly about at a competitive level.
The success of the integration in the Street project (combined with the fact of a large Afghan population in Bristol) has led to the most substantial innovation of all: a new cricket club. ‘Bristol Afghans CC’ hopes to rival the other ethnically defined teams of the area, of which Bristol West Indies is a particularly long-standing and successful example. The opportunity to put a group of like-minded young people together doing something they enjoy is especially rewarding – but would not have been possible without the crucial stepping-stone of the Chance to Shine Street project. “Getting these boys into full-blown local cricket clubs straight away could have been too much for them,” says Munden. “The language barrier, the costs, the cultural differences might have been too great. Our programme has allowed them to gradually get involved in the game in a way that they can enjoy.”
And what about those Nando’s vouchers? “It sounds funny,” Munden says with a laugh, “but as far as I’m concerned that’s a few quid well spent. They keep turning up to cricket, they play well, they can then get to take their teammates out for dinner. It’s a treat for them and a sense of pride as well.” Now, with the launch of the ‘Bristol Big Bash’ – in which numerous teams featuring boys from the project compete against one another, the restaurant is actually sponsoring the competition by providing free vouchers to the Man of the Match and the Player of the Tournament. Social integration, fun playing cricket, the launch of a brand new team… and a good dinner at the end of it. It’s fair to say the Street project in Bristol is thriving.
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MANCUNIAN MENTOR As a promising teenage batsman with Lancashire, Rehaan Rather might easily have turned pro. Instead, this youngest of three brothers from a cricket mad family, who proudly served Cheetham Hill CC, found his calling elsewhere. For Rehaan, the thrill never lay in his own performances though he recalls his first hundred, made in a junior Roses match, with affection. His mojo came from loving the game for its own sake. “Whether I get a duck or score a hundred, getting some kind of enjoyment out of it, not feeling the pressure to perform,” he recalls. “The higher I went, the fewer of my friends were around – it just started to feel like a chore.” As a result, a disillusioned Rehaan packed his kit bag and at 15 gave the game up, only returning to Cheetham Hill CC aged 22, when his father Mahmood became chairman, and asked him to help with coaching. It turned out pretty well. Rehaan now devotes most of his waking hours to introducing others to cricket, inspiring, nurturing and nourishing a love for the sport. Having completed his masters’ degree in management and information studies, he gambled on leaving his sixthform college job to become a community coach after Richard Joyce, operations manager of Chance to Shine Street cricket,
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phoned having heard good reports of his hands-on approach through Lancashire Cricket Board MD Bobby Denning.
a sort of father figure to them because they don’t have parents here, they might live in foster homes.
In November 2015, he was named outstanding coach at the Chance to Shine Street Awards and then offered a fulltime role as a development coach with Lancashire Cricket Board. It’s the perfect marriage: their backing for his sterling work on a beat covering Longsight, Moss Side, his old Cheetham Hill stomping ground, and Old Trafford: bringing the game to those who might not otherwise encounter it.
“And if I can attract one new person through the doors to play cricket, that’s a success. My job is to make their first experience meaningful and positive – it’s about enjoyment, engagement and having fun.”
In any given week – all year round – hundreds of inner-city kids pass through the hands of Rehaan and his 10-strong team, particularly those from south Asian communities: kids and teenagers for whom school and home life can be tough – and integration a challenge. As the softly-spoken Rehaan explains, cricket in whatever format, able-bodied, disabled, hard-ball, soft-ball, tape-ball, or in a 25-team indoor league on a Sunday – provides a unique release: its structures and codes, backed by solid encouragement, offering instructive lessons to those on the margins. “The best thing about the game for me is the social skills it gives you,” he says. “Cricket might be the most productive thing these kids do. We’ve had a huge influx of Afghan refugees – they don’t have any social skills, they can barely speak English. I’m seen as
There is poignant symmetry in Rehaan’s story. Cheetham Hill CC have – temporarily at least, folded – but their old boy, the lad for whom the grassroots game was always best, is doing all he can to make sure that flame burns bright again. An average day on his beat – in and out of schools, taking in games, checking in on his favourite charges – might last until 9pm, spreading the word and tending Lancashire’s less-heralded roses. “I take it upon myself to get to know those people and try and create a rapport with parents and teachers,” he says. The slight downside is that as an ardent Manchester United fan, he occasionally has to sport the rival club crest for community work sponsored by Manchester City. “We came to a compromise,” he laughs. “City let me choose what jacket to wear. But I had to have their badge on it.” Whatever the badge, Rehaan wears it with honour – and distinction.
This article first appeared in the ECB’s international match programme
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A CAPTAIN IN THE MAKING Chance to Shine does not set out to find future cricket stars, but by reaching such a large number of children they often unearth some hidden gems. Chance to Shine started working at Chinley Primary School in Derbyshire in 2015, and the Headteacher Mr Lambert is delighted with the results: “The Chance to Shine programme has been great at getting children all the way through involved with cricket. It’s also helped to identify one or two real stars, Caleb being one of them.” Caleb Winfield is a natural cricketer who took to the game instantly. “I knew it was going to be my sport as soon as I started playing it. If you don’t have a good day batting, then you can always bowl and field!” After showing promise at the school sessions, he attended trials at Derbyshire, and was selected for their Under 11 side, and has excelled from there, with best county bowling figures of 5-6. Caleb has already identified the right spirit in which to play the game. “You sometimes win, you sometimes lose, and you win as a team.” This attitude has been met with an approving eye by the coaches, and he was made captain of Derbyshire Under 11s. As coach Tom Coxhead, who originally spotted Caleb’s talent, puts it: “He’s someone the
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kids can look up to. He’s someone who contributes to every game. He’s a role model for the other children, both with his attitude and his abilities.” A born leader, Caleb’s cricket has helped him develop this further. Headteacher Lambert adds: “We’re very proud of what he’s achieved. Caleb’s always had some leadership qualities, and him being captain at Derbyshire has brought those out a little bit more.” And although Caleb loves captaining his team, he has even loftier ambitions: “It’s a good feeling, wearing the badge, playing for them. I want to play for Derbyshire when I’m older and maybe play for England!” Chance to Shine has helped Caleb follow his dream, and who would bet against him going all the way.
CLUBBING TOGETHER Chance to Shine has had a great impact at Taxal & Fernilee Primary School, particularly in terms of encouraging children to transition to clubs outside of school. Tom Coxhead, who leads the sessions at the school, says: “We get a lot of children coming to the after-school clubs, and a lot of them go on to play at their local cricket clubs.” Nathan is one such child who has tried out at a nearby club, with great success. “I played my first game for the under 13s and I took a wicket and was man of the match. I hope one day to play professionally!” New players like Nathan are demonstrating to local teams the value of the work Chance to Shine does. “Clubs are starting to really see that the Chance to Shine Programme works,” says Coxhead. “Maybe they were a bit sceptical a few years ago, but now they are seeing the benefit.” Head of PE Sue Lonsdale has noticed that it’s not just the kids’ cricket skills that are improving, but that they are also developing in ways that will benefit them away from the playing field: “On the social side, they learn to work together as a team and foster that team spirit.”
Perhaps most importantly of all, the children are enjoying the new sport they’ve discovered. Freya, a pupil at the school, describes cricket as “really fun”, and has especially enjoyed the sessions because “you get taught loads of things”. The children are loving playing cricket, the teachers are glad to see them learn valuable life skills, and local clubs are thriving thanks to their new members.
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The children are loving playing cricket...and the clubs are thriving thanks to their new members www.chancetoshine.org
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CASE STUDIES VOL.4
THESE GIRLS CAN Through dedicated coaching sessions in partnership with Chance to Shine, Wanstead CC starlets Hajarah Chaudhry, Safia Salim and Kiran Bhangu are contributing hugely to the advancement of cricket in Redbridge, east London. What began in 2014 as a small group of girls wanting to become more active has grown into a series of vibrant and popular sessions bringing cricket to local schoolkids in the area. After being approached by Saba Nasim, a qualified Level 2 coach and legend of Wanstead CC, numbers grew. For Saba, awarded the 2015 Asian Coach of the Year Award, it has been enormously rewarding to see these girls undertake their own Level 2 qualifications, becoming independent coaches themselves. Their motivation is to give back to the community; for all those involved, ensuring they have fun is the priority, regardless of their competitive natures. “The girls have all improved, growing from novices to skilful competitive individuals,” Saba says, while Kiran adds: “Without the opportunities provided by Chance to Shine, we would never have considered it.” The girls’ peers were at first surprised at their interest in cricket. “My friends at school thought it was absolutely hilarious, an Asian girl who wears a hijab playing cricket,” Hajarah says. But after persevering, they have since acted as role models for other girls who might not have tried the sport. Saba adds: “At the beginning, it was quite hard but once girls saw girls playing we started increasing in numbers every week.”
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Mahdiyah is another participant in the sessions, and acknowledges another reason the girls might not be keen to play. “There are a lot of girls who don’t really put the effort into it when they play sport because they’re worried about how they look,” she says, but with encouragement they can really get into it and “put aside all of those fickle concerns,” while Mahdiyah’s sister, 13 year-old Amirah, has no such worries: “I think I look great in this uniform!” Watching a session take place is instructive. Even their warm-up, a simple game of ‘hand hockey’, gets the blood pumping while challenging the participants to think on their feet and work in a team environment. Spatial and tactical awareness is sharpened, along with hand-eye coordination and general athleticism. And all this before the cricketing skills kick in. Support, in the form of a grant, from the Cricket Society for the Redbridge Girls Street Project has helped to deliver the programme. These funds were bequeathed by Vivienne Hoggarth, a Cricket Society member, who left money with the aim of helping young cricketers. Along with supporting the delivery, they also included a £300 bursary per year to support girls looking to progress into club cricket. The girls have all made the leap to join Wanstead CC and have been awarded £100 worth of equipment, as well as receiving the Heather Knight signature bat. It all helps the girls in their quest to inspire and energise others to take up the game.
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NORTHERN SOULS Inspiration can strike from anywhere. For two teenagers from Sedgefield, County Durham, their thunderbolt moment came from meeting some of their heroes through a Chance to Shine coaching session. Now Eddie Hurst and Connor Whitelock are taking the first step towards their goals of becoming first-class cricketers. Both boys were already playing cricket before they got involved with Chance to Shine. Yet only when Eddie, a wicketkeeper, met Durham ‘keeper Phil Mustard during a Chance to Shine event at his school, that he began to take his cricket seriously. “It was an inspiration watching and actually meeting Phil Mustard – someone who I had looked up to for a while,” he says. For Connor, he found his inspiration through coaching. Having never previously thought about it, Connor got into coaching as he wanted to help out his local club, Sedgefield CC. “I just thought Sedgefield had done quite a lot for me and I wanted to give the club something back so I started doing some coaching.” Connor has progressed so well with his coaching that he is now leading his own group of cricketers in the Durham development squad. However, despite his coaching talent, Connor has not given up his
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dream of being a professional cricketer, and in June 2016 he made his Durham second XI debut against Lancashire. Eddie is not far behind his friend. He has been in the Durham Academy side for three years and is showing promise in the North-East Premier League. “The highlight of my cricket career was when I got that phone call off John Windows [Durham Academy coach] to say that I was playing for Durham Academy. It was the turning point with my cricket, it’s given me the motivation to say that I could become a professional cricketer.” Connor’s career highlight to date came in 2013 when he won the Young Leader of the Year Award. “I got a letter through the door saying that I had been nominated for a national award with Chance to Shine. My club put me forward for it but no one told me about it so just picking that letter up and opening it, that feeling inside was unbelievable.” The boys are enormously grateful for where they find themselves now. Eddie has paid tribute to the work Chance to Shine does. “I think it’s really good that they are coming into schools that rarely see cricket. It’s a really amazing charity and it’s done a lot of things, especially for north-east cricket.”
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CASE STUDIES VOL.4
THE GAME OF LIFE PHOTOS BY BRIAN SCRIMSHAW
When Simon Jones joined the Hampshire Cricket Board four years ago, funding shortages meant that there was only one coach working with seven Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools in the county, providing around 40 hours of coaching annually. Fast-forward to the present day, and Chance to Shine’s programmes now operate in over 20 schools under the instruction of 10 coaches, providing up to 150 hours of coaching a year. The charity’s fundamental aim of spreading the power of cricket has provided the strong management and well-directed funding required to do just that across Hampshire. Jones, clubs and disability development manager for HCB, believes that being involved in “over 50 per cent” of SEN schools in the county means they can afford to talent-spot as well as continue to broaden cricket’s base by encouraging young children to participate in cricketing activities for the first time. Previously, Hampshire would field one hardball and one soft-ball team to participate in the national league, but in 2016 this has risen to two in both disciplines. According to Jones, “a large percentage of new players come through Chance to Shine.
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The programme allows children with special needs to start in an environment where people are reasonably familiar and comfortable, instead of being thrown in at the deep end by playing club cricket.” The fact that some do then go on to play in mainstream club cricket is to be celebrated. Primary and secondary schools in Hampshire benefit hugely from tournament festival days put on by the board and Chance to Shine, with 25 schools participating in three festivals during the summer term. This allows the county to scout players for their development squad, with the hope of one day elevating them into the county system. Above all else though, as Jones says, Chance to Shine “gives people the opportunity to participate”, and not just at the elite level. Feedback provided suggests that involvement in the scheme gives their children “confidence, social skills, life skills and, in some cases, a radical change in personality.” Proof of this can be seen at Oak Lodge School in Southampton, where two members of the county’s development squad were made Deputy Head Boys, in no small part due to the social interaction skills which had been developed through a Chance to Shine programme.
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CRICKET UNLOCKED IN CAMDEN
DRIVING AMBITION Cricket is thriving at Simon Balle All-through school, and the school owes a special debt of thanks to 13-year-old Elsa Barnfather. Her performances on the field and her leadership abilities have driven all of the school’s cricket teams to unprecedented success, while earning herself a spot with Hertfordshire under 13s. This combination of positivity and on-field skill serves to inspire the other girls. “Her attitude generally really encourages the girls. She’s very enthusiastic but firm at the same time,” says PE teacher Kate Ansell, adding “the Year 7s who have just started cricket look up to her because she’s at that higher level. It’s really exciting for Simon Balle’s cricket, as well as for the girls, to have a county cricketer in their team.”
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“Before the Chance to Shine Street project, there wasn’t much cricket here in Camden.” So says Middlesex county cricket board coach Shakeel Ahmed. But now those children who want to progress their games but are not yet ready to make the step up to hard-ball cricket at a local club have the opportunity to attend regular coaching sessions. a pupil at the school, says: “I used to think it was just a boys’ sport, but now I know that girls can play it as well.”
She is captain of the school’s under 13 side and under her leadership the team have won every competition offered by Chance to Shine’s secondary school competition Chance to Compete, while both the under 13s and under 15s have made it through to the regional finals in Hertfordshire.
Elsa’s cricketing prowess has led to her being selected to represent the boys’ team. “It was a bit nerve-wracking but I got into it. They all stared at me with really confused faces, but I proved them wrong!” Her teammate Aiden is very grateful for her contribution. “The opposition underestimates her. Their eyes light up and they think, ‘We can win this easily’. Then she gets wickets and we win the game.”
Elsa has driven take-up of the sport to new levels, and some students who wouldn’t before have considered it are now taking part. Emily,
There is no limit to Elsa’s ambitions. “My dream is to be an England cricketer, and maybe the captain!”
Developing social skills within the framework of Chance to Shine is hugely important. Shakeel says: “It takes away all the tensions because it’s a team game. It focuses your mind on competition, on improvement, on socialising, and takes your mind away from all other negative things.” Community volunteer Selem Ali agrees, adding that cricket provides these young people with “something better to do other than go on the streets and get up to no good”. This is good not only for the children, but for the parents too, who, says Shakeel, can see their children “going to a session, making new friends, being physically active, and being part of a club,” while being safe in the knowledge that their children are staying on a positive path.
The ‘Street’ cricketers enjoy a great relationship with their coaches. They speak of how the coaches speak to them as equals, while Shakeel describes how those inspired by the work the coaches do are able to follow in their footsteps: “Some young children want to take the coaching path, so they can get involved whenever they want. That helps massively with confidence and social skills.”
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CASE STUDIES VOL.4
MIMI’S STORY Emma Cowdrill, a cricket coach in the Hampshire area, recalls the “quite meteoric” rise of Mimi Ormondroyd, a young primary school student whose enthusiasm for cricket matches her natural talent. Cowdrill first noticed her talent during one of the lunchtime cricket sessions she was putting on at St Peter’s, Mimi’s school. She suggested that Mimi go along to Cove Cricket Club, and it didn’t take long for her to make an impression. The first session she attended was on a Monday, and by Friday she was playing a match. She was then nominated for the under 10 district trials, sailing through the selection process and beginning to train during the winter. The following summer, Mimi was selected to take part in the hard-ball set-up, and was also put up for under 11 county trials. It came as no shock to Cowdrill that Mimi was selected despite being a year younger than most of the squad. In her first match Mimi took four wickets and two catches. What is so refreshing about Mimi, according to Cowdrill, is that she is “full of the most incredible enthusiasm” and is “very coachable”, all of which leads to her being a very positive role model for those around her.
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Had it not been for the Chance to Shine programme operating in Mimi’s school, her talent may never have been discovered. Cowdrill says that such schemes have “made an absolutely huge difference” to club cricket in the region. It’s not just Cove CC that has benefitted; a number of other local clubs who have opened their doors to local kids to come and join their youth programmes. Cowdrill has been involved with Chance to Shine for four years. While she readily concedes it has taken a while to work out the best approach to getting kids playing regular cricket, she is energised by the fact that ever-more primary and secondary schools are incorporating the programmes into their curriculums. She believes that the pathway to getting more youngsters into hard-ball cricket will become easier as time goes on; adding that cricket clubs would not be as open to taking on young kids from outside the local area without Chance to Shine. If her rise continues, Mimi may one day get the chance to represent England. But it is just as important that other lesser talented young cricketers are exposed to what a cricket club can offer. Chance to Shine is at the heart of connecting young cricketers to local clubs.
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GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM When Dan Grounds was in Year 3 at Oulton First Primary School in Stone, Staffordshire, he experienced a day that will live long in his memory. Oulton had recently become one of the first schools in the area to become involved with the Chance to Shine programme, and Jim Dawson, who works for Staffordshire Cricket and Chance to Shine, was visiting the school to deliver the session. It sparked something in the youngster. Dan was hooked. Although initially interested only in playing the game, he has since found a passion for coaching it too.
children where I play now and how much fun I have had since leaving Oulton – hopefully it will give them something to aspire to.” Jim is in no doubt of the impact Dan has had: “Having him back here, just delivering to children where he was seven or eight years ago, is really good to see. You can see the juniors are really enjoying him being part of the session.”
With a week of work experience coming up, Dan decided to develop his interest in cricket coaching. Seeing work experience as an opportunity to give back to his community, he went back to his old primary school – under the auspices of Staffordshire Cricket and in conjunction with Chance to Shine – to coach some classes. Dan was now inspiring kids just a few years after he himself had been inspired.
I was able to tell the children where I play now and how much fun I have had since leaving Oulton – hopefully it will give them something to aspire to
Dan, now 15, is fully onboard with the ethos of Chance to Shine, and it is evident that he wants to make a change to young people’s lives. “I was able to tell the
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MORE THAN A GAME Challenging the convention of cricket being a male-dominated sport is a central tenet of Chance to Shine’s work, and the charity has worked closely with the Durham Cricket Board and local schools to achieve this. In January, Jean Brennan, head of PE at Teesdale Comprehensive, got in touch with Durham Cricket Board member Darren Brown, with the outcome being regular coaching sessions for the girls at the school, funded through Chance to Shine. The attendance at the club, consistently over 20 per session, has made the project a huge success, while the potential for expansion makes it all the more exciting. Darren, who has worked with Durham and Chance to Shine for a decade now, believes that this current initiative is one of the best he’s been associated with, regarding it as “invaluable” in “giving students opportunities that they may not have been able to access.” Club regular Evie says that there were “not many opportunities for girls to play sport outside of school”, and that being “fun” and “not too serious”, the project represented a “great opportunity to get friends involved.”
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The project is invaluable in giving students opportunities that they may not have been able to access This project, and much of Chance to Shine’s work, aims to ensure that the sport continues to become ever-more accessible for girls, and to bring through a new crop of female players to play club and county cricket. And even for those who won’t progress to these levels, it is still a great opportunity to try something new and improve their sporting and social skills.
From football mad to cricket crazy If you are a young lad from Darlington growing up in the football-mad north-east, then the chances are your first sporting dream is to score a goal at St James’ Park in front of the Toon army. Making a century at Lord’s comes way down the list, if it makes the list at all. But though this may be football country – the land of Gazza, Shearer and Waddle – Chance to Shine has helped one teenager to realise that football is not the only sport he can love. Darren Brown, cricket development officer at Durham, first came into Jake Louth’s Darlington primary school a decade ago. At that time, Jake had never even picked up a cricket bat. Fast forward 10 years, and he is playing in the Durham Academy side. “Cricket’s helped me grow up a lot,” he says, “because when you’re younger and you get a duck you’re fuming with yourself. But then learning that you’ll have your good days and your bad days, you just take it on the chin a little bit more now.”
Although Jake, like all aspiring pros, will have to overcome many challenges to make it to the top in the next few years, his philosophy is very much that cricket is there to be enjoyed. “I just want to keep pushing on and enjoy it, that’s all I’d say to anyone wanting to play any sport.” Jake’s story epitomises what Chance to Shine aims to achieve. With limited work opportunities in and around Darlington, it is vital that Chance to Shine is able to work with young people in the area to introduce them to the positive aspects of cricket. There is never a guarantee that any player will be able to make it to the top of the game, but Jake Louth possesses the work ethic and the attitude to give it a seriously good shot, and without Chance to Shine he’d still be dreaming only of that black and white striped football shirt.
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THE GRASS IS GREENER
MUSKAN’S MAGIC
On first appearances, Brooke VC Church of England primary school looks an unlikely place for a successful cricket team, not least because there is no grass to play on, and the number of students sits at just 125. But thanks to great efforts from the whole school and from the wider community, facilitated by Chance to Shine, cricket is thriving, with over a quarter of students across all year groups participating, and contributing to the school’s outstanding success.
Muskan Ratti only started playing cricket three years ago, but she is already a leader and role model for the other girls at Featherstone High School. “She is really the driving force of cricket at Featherstone,” says Middlesex CCB’s Sharon Eyers. “Without her enthusiasm, excitement, and rallying, it would be nowhere near as good as it is.”
Headmaster David Robinson has been able to observe the essential work Chance to Shine carries out through its sessions on the school’s small playground area: “We’ve been able to have a coach coming in on a regular basis to build the childrens’ skills and enable them to play at a standard that they can be proud of.”
Denmark adds: “This is one of the best examples I’ve ever seen of a club working in tandem with a school.”
Crucially, the school has also received support from the local Brooke & District Cricket Club, which has been happy to help in any way they can. Club skipper Rob Panter says: “We are delighted at the cricket club that they can use the facilities, use the playing fields, and use the nets. We’ll continue to support them.” Norfolk County Cricket Board coach Kevin
The school team has scaled great heights this year. They progressed through the regional competition to the county finals where they fell four agonising runs short of being crowned county champions. And most importantly of all, the children are loving it. Year 6 pupil Jake captures it best: “It’s kind of like a big family, happy and friendly.”
Sharon credits a Chance to Shinefunded leadership course with Muskan’s development, saying that upon her return “she just changed completely as a girl and as a leader”. Muskan agrees that cricket has given her new confidence. “I used to be shy but now I’m confident and I can talk to other people. Cricket taught me to be a leader.” PE teacher Anya McKeever tells the story of how, thanks to Muskan, cricket grew in the school: “She went round rallying all her friends telling them how good cricket was and all of the different qualities it can bring out in you.” Muskan is now a figure that the girls look up to. “She’s a massive role model in the school. All of the younger girls know who she is and aspire to be like her,” says Anya.
Pupil Angela credits Muskan with helping her game: “She’s helped me bowl. I’ve been improving over the years because of Muskan. She’s a really good leader.” Helping others improve is a challenge Muskan relishes, because of the enjoyment others get out of playing. “I enjoy teaching other people, trying to get them to learn the sport. Everyone has one motive, to play cricket and have fun.” Muskan is the first girl from Featherstone to play cricket at an outside club, which she describes as “amazing for the school”. She plays for Indian Gymkhana’s under 10s and under 13s boys teams, as well as their ladies team, and hopes to go on and play for England. She believes every girl should give cricket a go if they get the chance. “My message to young girls is ‘Play the sport, maybe you have the hidden talent.’” Muskan grabbed her opportunity, and now both she and Featherstone High are reaping the rewards.
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3,000,000 Not Out!
WHAT I’VE LEARNED Soyfur Rahman
I was getting better and better. I became known as a fast bowler. I was picking it up quite quickly and I started playing hardball cricket.
You can be the spark of change.
Or call 020 7735 2881.
Over a decade ago, Soyfur Rahman and his family moved from Bangladesh to settle in Bethnal Green, east London. It was a huge upheaval, but with the help of Chance to Shine he found his passion in cricket and has never looked back. He’s now working as a coach for Middlesex and inspiring pupils back at his old primary school.
As soon as I started playing cricket everyone knew me. Everyone talked to me so I picked up English quicker. From there onwards I started going to Victoria Park Cricket Club. Everyone was going there on Saturday or Sunday to play a game.
We want to make sure that we can continue to provide opportunities to even more children across the country. But we need your support to make that difference. You can help to spread the power of cricket, to unite communities and to teach life skills that will last forever.
Donate today at chancetoshine.org/donate
Full-time cricket coach
I was 11 when I came to England. I didn’t speak any English. I was just about able to write my name. I was like, “Where am I going to go?” because I didn’t know any people at school. Then I went to cricket, and that changed everything.
Since 2005, Chance to Shine has helped more than 3 million children to play, enjoy and learn through cricket.
Now I’m working for Middlesex County Cricket Board as a full-time coach. Cricket gave me a career. When I came to coaching it was like, “It wasn’t long ago I was here, being coached”. Coaches were coaching me and now I’m coaching people. It’s amazing where I started and where I’m at now. When Chance to Shine came in and helped me, that changed my life. If I wasn’t involved in coaching at the moment with Middlesex or with Chance to Shine I don’t know where I’d be.
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When Chance to Shine came in and helped me, it changed my life
Charity number: 1123385
Soyfur Rahman
www.chancetoshine.org Chance to Shine, The Laker Stand, Kia Oval, Kennington, London, SE11 5SS. TEL 020 7735 2881
