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Courtney Walsh helps deliver street cricket
to inner-city kids
Legendary West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh joined youngsters for a street cricket session at the Westway Centre in West London on the 7th November 2008.
Courtney Walsh, an Ambassador of the Jamaica Tourist Board and in London to promote a new sports strategy for theCaribbean island, took part in the session to promote StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports.
The three-year StreetChance programme was launched in July 2008 and is initially being delivered across 10 Londonboroughs, using 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, the Metropolitan Police Service and Positive Futures; a social inclusion project funded mainly by the Home Office.
Courtney's visit to London follows a national roadshow tour which has included appearances and demonstrations at various state schools across the UK to highlight cricket and sport in Jamaica. Courtney is the very epitome of Jamaican sporting prowess, achieving 519 test wickets during his illustrious career and is very keen to pass on his experiences, his determination and his love of his home to sport enthusiasts within the UK.
He gave some tips to youngsters who were playing Street 20 cricket, a fast-paced version of the game requiring minimal equipment with everyone getting a chance to bat, bowl and field. It uses a tennis ball bound with tape to replicate a cricket ball.
This form of cricket is already played in Jamaica and Courtney Walsh said: "I think it's great that young people who have maybe not played cricket before can be introduced to the game in this easy to play version. Cricket changed my life and continues to change lives in this country and in Jamaica, so it is important that children have an easy route into the game."
Joining Courtney was former England fast bowler Devon Malcolm, who said: "With cricket attracting a new audience through Twenty20, it's important the game can build on that - in particular, giving an opportunity to youngsters to play the game in built-up areas, including those at risk from crime and anti-social behaviour."
StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports will aim, in the first year, to involve 5,000 young people in and out of school time across London.
The in-school activity, based on the Cricket Foundation's Chance to shine model, provides 20 hours of professional cricket coaching and competition during the summer term. Out of school hours, young people from schools and the local community will take part in a three-hour cricket session every week for 40 weeks each year.
In addition to the core programme, local Positive Futures teams will run self-development projects, with support from school liaison officers, to re-enforce messages about social exclusion, gang membership, drug and alcohol misuse, possession of weapons and remaining in education.
BBC Breakfast reporter Mike Bushell came down to the StreetChance event. To view his report click here...
Cricket collaboration to help combat Capital's youth crime
Cricket charities teamed up with the Metropolitan Police Service, the Home Office and Barclays Spaces for Sports to launch a new initiative today (Tuesday 15 July) to help tackle youth crime in London.
'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. 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.
It is a partnership between Chance to shine, Barclays Spaces for Sports, Cricket for Change, the Metropolitan Police Service and Positive Futures; a social inclusion project funded mainly by the Home Office.
StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports will aim, in the first year, to involve 5,000 young people in and out of school time across London.
The in-school activity, based on the Cricket Foundation's Chance to shine model, provides 25 hours of professional cricket coaching and competition during the summer term. Out of school hours, young people from schools and the local community will take part in a three-hour cricket session every week for 40 weeks each year.
The sessions will use Cricket for Change's 'Street 20', a fast-paced version of tape-ball cricket, where each innings last for 20 balls and games last for just 20 minutes. It is very accessible and can be played with limited equipment, using a tennis ball bound with tape to replicate a cricket ball. Street 20 competitions will take place across London, with a Grand Final in the autumn.
England cricketers Ravi Bopara and Isa Guha helped to launch StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports, along with actor and cricket fan Colin Salmon at the Westway Sports Centre near White City. Youngsters from local schools were among those who took part in cricket activities at the venue, which is one of 10 being used in the first year of the project.
Simon Dyson, Executive Chairman of Chance to shine, said: "Chance to shine's ambition, through this dynamic partnership, is to provide opportunities for young people in inner cities. The initiative will help develop leadership, team spirit and mutual respect among youngsters."
Gary Hoffman, Group Vice Chairman at Barclays, said: "We are delighted to be involved in delivering this project, making cricket more accessible to a large number of youngsters from inner city London. This initiative reflects the broader aim of Barclays Spaces for Sports to transform disadvantaged communities through sport."
Tom Rodwell, Chief Executive Cricket for Change, said: "This project builds on our 25 years plus experience in using cricket to help disadvantaged youth; specifically in 2007 when we started working with the Metropolitan Police in Hackney using Street20 cricket to help engage with young people."
Mark Blake, Director of Positive Futures, said: "Positive Futures is all about engaging young people through sports, like cricket, and this project fits perfectly with that ethos. We can try and help young people to become valuable members of their communities."
Sir Paul Stephenson, Deputy Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Service, said: "The Metropolitan Police Service is committed to making London safer and it is vital that we work with young people to achieve this. This project provides an added opportunity for police officers to meet with young people locally and understand any concerns they may have around crime, crime prevention and safety."
In addition to the core programme, local Positive Futures teams will run self-development projects, with support from school liaison officers, to re-enforce messages about social exclusion, gang membership, drug and alcohol misuse, possession of weapons and remaining in education.