FAQ

What is StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports?

StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports is a three year project being delivered initially across ten London boroughs. The initiative uses cricket to engage young people from a range of backgrounds in areas affected by youth crime and anti-social behaviour. It is a partnership between Chance to shine, Barclays Spaces for Sports, Cricket for Change, Positive Futures and the Metropolitan Police Service.

How does the project work?

• StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports is an integrated project with both in-school and out of school activities.
• In each year of the project coaches will hold sessions with young people in 10 London boroughs for three hours each week (usually between 5pm and 8pm) over a
  40-week period.
• The coaches have been trained in teaching Street 20 cricket as well as a number of other skills such as how to safeguard children, develop communication skills and aggression management. The coaches are mostly young people, between 17 and 21 years of age.
• A number of competitions will be held which will culminate in a 'finals' competition for all the teams involved in the project.
• There is also an in-school programme that uses the model of the Cricket Foundation's Chance to shine programme. Each inner-city state school receives 25 hours of cricket coaching and Street 20 competition from professional cricket coaches during the Summer term. Young people who participate in the project during school hours will be encouraged to continue with the project out of school also.

What does the project hope to achieve?

As well as providing an opportunity to enjoy a regular, local cricket programme,the project aims to instill positive values in young people such as self confidence, team spirit and mutual respect, and enhance relationships with others, including schools, police and the wider community.

What is 'Street 20' cricket?

• It is a quick, easy to play and accessible form of the game that involves limited equipment and can be played almost anywhere.
• Street 20 is based on tapeball cricket which is widely played in Pakistan and South Africa, and uses a tennis ball covered in tape to behave like a cricket ball but without the risk of damage to people or property.
• It has been formalised as a competitive game, Street 20, by Cricket for Change.
• Street 20 is even more fast-paced than Twenty 20 - each innings last 20 balls, everyone bats and bowls and games, which can be played anywhere with a flat surface, last
  20 minutes.

Which organisations are involved in the project?

• The project is a partnership between Chance to shine, Barclays Spaces for Sports, Cricket for Change, the Metropolitan Police Service and Positive Futures.
• Chance to shine and Cricket for Change are delivering the project by training coaches and working with them to involve young people in the coaching sessions
  and competitions.
• Barclays Spaces for Sports is the majority funder of the project, with experience of transforming disadvantaged communities through sport and will provide one of its sites as a venue.
• The Metropolitan Police Service will work closely with coaches and delivery teams and attend coaching sessions regularly. The project is an opportunity for police officers to engage with young people locally and understand concerns they may have around crime, crime prevention and safety.
• Cricket for Change (formerly the London Community Cricket Association) has already targeted housing estates in deprived areas of London with Street20 cricket.
• Positive Futures is a Home Office national sports and activity-based social inclusion programme, providing youth workers to support the activity.

Please refer to the press offices of the respective partners for more information on their involvement.

Why cricket? Will only youngsters who like cricket be interested?

• Playing competitive cricket can enhance youngsters' self confidence and self-reliance while teaching them team work and respect for others. Cricket is unique as it's a team game with individual aspects. Street 20 is very inclusive and accessible. Youngsters can easily get involved even if they haven't previously played cricket.

Where is the project taking place?

• In the project's first year it will run across 10 boroughs: Brent, Chelsea and Kensington, Croydon, Ealing, Newham, Lewisham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Southwark
  and Wandsworth.
• It is hoped the project will be expanded to other areas of London in the second and
  third years.

Why were these boroughs selected?

The project aims to engage with young people in built-up areas of London affected by youth crime or anti-social behaviour where there are fewer green open spaces to play cricket compared with other parts of the country.

Who is taking part in the project?

• The project is open to boys and girls, aged 8 - 18 years, who live in the selected
  London boroughs.
• The in-school programme uses the model of the Cricket Foundation's Chance to shine programme which last year saw over 200,000 children take part, of which 45%
  were girls