Chance to Shine, a superb 20 not out

The charity celebrates a significant milestone in helping to spread cricket across state schools

CHARITY FEATURE

May 23 2005. English cricket is on the cusp of the most magical of Ashes summers – months that would define the sport for a generation. But on a playground in Bethnal Green, something equally seismic is just beginning.

Hague Primary School hosts the launch event for newly formed children’s charity Chance to Shine, the brainchild of broadcaster Mark Nicholas, along with Lord Mervyn King and cricket manufacturer Duncan Fearnley – determined to address the dearth of cricket in state schools. 

Fast forward 20 years, and their vision has reached over 7.3m children across England, Wales and Scotland. 7.3m Children have received Chance to Shine coaching since 2005 and 64% of state primary schools have received the charity’s programmes since 2017.

“It’s incredible to look back at what Chance to Shine have done over the last 20 years,” says Andrew Strauss, who took to the playground that day for the launch. “They’ve gone from an idea on a piece of paper to something delivering day in, day out – and getting more people playing cricket who otherwise wouldn’t.”

The numbers speak for themselves. Since 2017 alone, coaches from the charity have reached 64 per cent of state primary schools in England and Wales. Forging vital links to community cricket, the charity seeks not just to spark an initial love for the sport but to encourage children to keep playing outside of a school setting. A survey from the England and Wales Cricket Board last year found that 22 per cent of players surveyed knew someone at their club who had been introduced via the Chance to Shine programme.

Where club opportunities are limited, or barriers exist that stop young people from following traditional routes into the sport – Chance to Shine have their own solution. Their ‘Street’ programme was launched in 2008, with the ambition of giving young people access to cricket in areas where opportunities are otherwise scarce. As of 2025, over 300 clubs are running across England, Wales and Scotland – providing weekly sessions in under-served communities. All of the charity’s sessions are free at the point of access for participants, parents and schools.

Their work in schools has been a catalyst for some of the elite. In 2022, Issy Wong and Lauren Bell became the first Chance to Shine participants to play for England, both debuting in a Test match against South Africa at Taunton. Since then, Bell has made 53 international appearances by the age of 24.

Georgia Davis became the third Chance to Shine cricketer to represent England, taking two wickets on debut in an IT20 win over Ireland in autumn 2024. She also became captain of her home county, Warwickshire, at the start of this year.

“I wouldn’t be playing cricket if it wasn’t for Chance to Shine,” said Davis. “I think about what I do now, and I think – wow. That is incredible.”

That being the case, the charity’s primary focus remains on giving all young people the chance to play, learn and grow through the game – helping them fulfil their potential both on and off the field. Imagery celebrating their 20th birthday campaign focusses on the wider benefits of being ‘Inspired By Cricket’, including the likes of Bilal – a former Street cricketer turned financial advisor and Chance to Shine trustee. There’s also Zoeya – a medical student who credits the life skills learned through cricket as a key driver in her journey to becoming a doctor.

The charity recently returned to Hague Primary as part of their birthday celebrations, with pupils enjoying a cricket curriculum takeover as part of the milestone year. England international Dani Gibson led a PE session, Gray-Nicolls hosted a bat-making workshop, Test Match Special’s Aatif Nawaz taught commentary – and the Barmy Army’s trumpeter, Simon Finch, even gave a music lesson.

Headteacher Judy Knappett, who was also present at the 2005 launch, remains in post today. “We had teachers who knew nothing about cricket... but the coaches were so inspirational,” she said. “They were the ‘wow’ moment of the week. Many children had never experienced cricket before. The standard of PE rose because teachers learned alongside the coaches and gained confidence to run sessions themselves.”

And so to the future. 2024 saw the charity launch its Limitless Futures strategy, setting out its ambition to reach 1m young people annually by 2028, with an even stronger focus on under-served communities. With two domestic World Cups on the horizon, and a government ‘Future of Cricket Fund’ still on hold following last year’s general election, this feels like a pivotal moment for the growth of Chance to Shine.

“Now is the time to invest,” says Chief Executive Kate Stephens. “This is about creating a moment of change where young people not only get the opportunity to play cricket near their home - but also to experience it in their school. It’s a fully connected journey - and one that ensures cricket becomes something they’ve lived and feel part of.”  

For more information or to donate, click here.