The joint initiative between The Cricket Foundation, Barclays Spaces for Sports, Cricket for Change, Positive Futures and the Metropolitan Police Service was nominated for The Community Programme Award after a rigorous two-week judging process.

Manchester United Foundation, The Everton Foundation and England & Wales Cricket Board are among the other nominations for the category and the winner will be announced at a star-studded ceremony held at Battersea Evolution on 13th May.

The judging panel, chaired by BBC presenter John Inverdale, included former chief press secretary to the prime minister Alastair Campbell, LTA Chief Executive Roger Draper and one of Britain’s greatest Paralympics athletes  Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson.

Nick Keller, Chairman, Sport Industry Group said: “The prestigious shortlist has been carefully selected from a record number of entries of an impressively high standard, and to have earned a place represents an immense achievement.”

Coaches’ success

Two Cricket for Change coaches that help deliver StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports scooped national awards at the end of 2009. Adam Hall won the National Young Coach of the Year, supported by Sky Sports and England & Wales Cricket Board, for ‘helping the lives of disadvantaged young people through the medium of cricket’. Meanwhile, Alex Bassan picked up the Young Leader of the Year Awards at the ‘2009 Chance to shine Achievement Awards’.

There was further good news on the coaching front as StreetChance apprentices passed their Level 2 coaching courses. John Charles, John Courtman, Perry Sophocleous and Ram Tanna are now delivering coaching sessions in schools involved in the StreetChance programme.

Afghans' captain receives the cup for the winning team

Freezing cold weather could not stop play at the Street20 half-term competition which saw teams from across London battle it out in Canary Wharf.

More than 130 youngsters from a number of London boroughs took part in the StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports competition at Play on Sports indoor sports hall. A team of refugees from Afghanistan won both the senior (14 to 18 year old) section while ‘Newham Knights’ - six time runners-up – finally triumphed in the junior (under 14s) section.

London Afghans defeated ‘Southwark Storm’ in the senior final, a repeat of the team’s success in the previous competition at the same venue.

StreetChance coach, Danny Baker said, “It’s great that once again we’ve had  a very good turn out in freezing weather.  It just emphasises how Street20 cricket can be played almost anywhere at any time of year.”

Cricket for Change Development Manager Adam Hall added: “We know from the kids already involved with StreetChance that they really enjoy these competitions, which makes them feel part of a much wider programme.”

The StreetChance Volunteer Programme is supported by ‘v’, which has matched a portion of funding from the City Bridge Trust.  The programme will create more than 100 volunteering opportunities for 16-25 year olds living in the London boroughs where weekly StreetChance sessions are run.

The funding has allowed the charity to appoint a Volunteer Coordinator, Amy Mortlock (pictured)

Amy Mortlock, StreetChance Volunteer Coordinator

who started in March and will be responsible for recruiting, training and deploying young volunteers.  The volunteers will provide support to all aspects of StreetChance including weekly community sessions and cross-borough cricket competitions, accessing valuable training opportunities and unique experiences that will support their personal development.

StreetChance Operations Manager Richard Joyce said: “The funding from v is fantastic news for StreetChance. It will help us to provide great volunteer opportunities for young people in the communities where we operate and hopefully will also provide role models for the young people involved in the programme.”

An independent evaluation report on StreetChance carried out by Loughborough University last year highlighted how the inclusive nature of cricket is helping to re-connect previously marginalised children.

Projects funded by v are designed to engage young people who are under-represented in volunteering, and through the StreetChance Volunteer Programme the charity aims in particular to engage young people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and those not in education, employment or training.

For more information on ‘v’ click here

StreetChance expands from 10 to 15 London boroughs

Youngsters in 15 London boroughs will now enjoy StreetChance sessions both at school and in their local communities.

StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports has now launched new projects in Barking & Dagenham, Haringey, Sutton, Waltham Forest and Westminster.  The expansion to five new boroughs will add a further 30 state primary and secondary schools to the programme.

In total, 90 schools are now involved in StreetChance and 7,500 boys and  girls are expected to take part in the school and community sessions in 2010. 

StreetChance Operations Manager, Richard Joyce said, “StreetChance has proved hugely popular with young people in London’s schools and communities.  Expanding into a further five boroughs will give even more children in inner-city areas the opportunity to enjoy our exciting version of cricket.”

Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Paul Stephenson, added: “As one element of our youth strategy across London, the life skills that StreetChance promotes, such as teamwork and leadership, are key to a young person’s all round development. The Met is committed to understanding how it can best hear the concerns of young Londoners. StreetChance has helped to promote this engagement between police and young people.”

Programme partner Cricket for Change will continue to deliver StreetChance sessions, supported by coaches from London Tigers, Capital Kids Cricket, Southwark Community Games and ASG Sports.

StreetChance, launched in 2008, continues to provide cricketing opportunities in Brent, Croydon, Hackney, Hounslow, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

Adam Rowse, Regional Director, 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.”

For details on where your weekly local StreetChance session is taking place visit the ‘Get Involved’ area of this website.

Newham win "Battle of Waterloo"

The Duke of Wellington once said “The Battle of Waterloo was won on the playing fields of Eton”.  Today (14 April) a group of children from inner-city London state schools and communities turned Waterloo Station into a playing field of their own for a cricketing “Battle of Waterloo”.

Teenagers from Lewisham, Newham, Southwark and Tower Hamlets battled it out on behalf of Kent, Essex, Surrey and Middlesex in a ‘Street20’ cricket competition – the first ever to be held at a national railway station - to raise awareness of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, “Pitch Perfect”.

The six-a-side cricket competition took place in London Waterloo’s disused Eurostar terminal and a tape ball – a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape – replaced the traditional leather cricket ball.  Street20 is a fast-paced version of ‘the gentleman’s game’ and can be played anywhere with a flat surface. Each innings lasts just 20 balls, making it both accessible and engaging for young people.  Newham claimed victory against Lewisham in a nail-biting final, winning by just two runs.  Receiving the “Battle of Waterloo” trophy, captain Rifat, 14, said: “It feels excellent.  It’s only our second competition and the last time we were runners-up. This time it was all down to tactics.”

Joining scores of youngsters were three past Ashes winners: Chris Broad, Lydia Greenway and Gladstone Small.  Chris, father of current England fast bowler Stuart Broad, and Gladstone were members of the last England team to lead a victorious campaign to Australia in 1986/7; while Lydia helped England to retain the Ashes in 2009.

The Lord Mayor of London, Nick Anstee, has named The Cricket Foundation and the London Symphony Orchestra as the principal beneficiaries of his Appeal in 2010.  Through The Cricket Foundation’s StreetChance initiative and the LSO Discovery programme, “Pitch Perfect” aims to bring sport and music activities to 75,000 children in two-thirds of London boroughs by 2015.

Commenting on today’s event, the Lord Mayor of London said: “It’s incredibly uplifting to see young people enjoying a cricket match in the heart of London during their school holidays. Pitch Perfect will bring cricket and music opportunities to thousands of young people from challenging boroughs in London and will leave a lasting legacy.”

Former England Test cricketer turned ICC Test official, Chris Broad, added: “Cricket should be for everyone regardless of class or background. I often see kids playing tape ball cricket in the streets of Dhaka and Lahore, so why not in urban spaces and playgrounds in London too?  It’s a fantastic way to introduce young people to the game.”

Pitch Perfect aims to enable the following by 2015:

• 75,000 young people to participate in StreetChance and On Track activities across London, 60% of whom will be from ethnic minority backgrounds

• 950 schools to be actively involved in StreetChance and On Track projects in two thirds of London boroughs

• 1,250 teachers to be trained, to enable continued activity beyond 2015

The “Battle of Waterloo” cricket competition is one of a number of events taking place this year to help raise awareness and funds for Pitch Perfect. Other highlights include a ‘World of Cricket’ dinner at Guildhall with a number of high-profile international cricketers (28 June), a celebrity cricket match at Windsor Castle (4 July), a ‘Fathers & Daughters’ dinner (6 September) and a Gala evening with the LSO at Windsor Castle’ (2 October).

For a full list of Pitch Perfect events and to find out ways to support the Lord Mayor’s Appeal 2010 click here

The Cricket Foundation and London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) are running a joint 2010 Lord Mayor’s Appeal called Pitch Perfect.  Funds raised from the Appeal will give thousands of young people in London cricket and musical opportunities through StreetChance and On Track outreach programmes.

Highlights of the many fundraising events planned for the Pitch Perfect year
include a ‘World of Cricket’ dinner at the Guildhall on 28th June and a celebrity cricket match at Windsor Castle between the Lord Mayor’s team and a Royal Household XI on 4th July.

Pitch Perfect aims to enable the following by 2015:

•  75,000 young people to participate in StreetChance and LSO activities
across London, 60% of whom will be from ethnic minority backgrounds

•  950 schools to be actively involved in StreetChance and LSO projects in two thirds of London boroughs

•  1,250 teachers to be trained, to enable continued activity beyond 2015
 
A number of music and cricket-loving ambassadors are supporting Pitch Perfect, including England and Surrey cricketer Mark Ramprakash, former England and Middlesex captain Mike Gatting, World Cup winning England Women’s captain Charlotte Edwards, award-winning lyricist Sir Tim Rice and Academy Award winning actress Emma Thompson.

Emma Thompson said “Pitch Perfect is unique in the way it brings music and sport together. Both cricket and music have the power to transform the lives of kids by giving them confidence and helping them to learn to work as part of a team”.

For more details on Pitch Perfect and ways to support the Appeal click here  

Lord Mayor of London Nick Anstee

Recognising the hard work and enthusiasm of the team throughout the year coach Adam Hall arranged the trip down to Sussex.

The tour included a day’s coaching at Arundel Castle Foundation ground, an overnight stay at a private school, a Twenty20 match at Pagham CC and a barbecue in front of the big screen showing the England v Australia international.

On the first day of the tour the inner-city lads received expert advice and tips from newly appointed MCC President John Barclay.  The cricket master-class even included a go on the bowling machine – another first for most of the youngsters.

One of the Southwark team members, Danny Elliott, 14, said: “This is great! I have never used a bowling machine before and I really love the setting with the countryside. It’s not like my estate!”

The next day consisted of the Twenty20 match between Southwark Storm and Pagham CC, a club based in Bognor Regis. Pagham CC won the toss and batted first scoring 132 off their 20 overs.  Southwark were tight in the field, in particular Connor Hogan, and all-rounder Charlie Jerrom also impressed with his two wickets.

Southwark came out strong with Jerrom again making his presence felt by knocking a quick-fire 46 runs.  Ram Prasad contributed 32 runs with some strong hitting. In the end Southwark were 10 runs short and just missed out from what would have been a memorable win; though the loss didn’t detract from what had been a hugely successful tour.

Jaffer Baloch said: “This tour has been amazing. I have never been on one before and all the boys love the competitions. We want to thank our coach Adam and StreetChance for setting this up for us because who knows what some of us would be doing if we were not so dedicated to our cricket now?”

Adam added:  “It was a great match and the lads gave it their all and will learn a massive amount from this whole experience. We would like to thank John Barclay and Ryan Denyer for making this possible and hope this can become an annual event!”

Southwark Storm practice at Downside Fisher Youth Club

An independent evaluation report by Loughborough University, commissioned by partners of StreetChance supported by Barclays Spaces for Sports (see home page for link to the report), also highlights how the inclusive nature of cricket is helping to re-connect previously marginalised school pupils. Teachers are also using cricket to overcome language barriers in schools where English is often a second language for pupils.

StreetChance is a three-year project being delivered initially across 10 London boroughs[1]. The initiative, launched in July 2008, uses cricket to engage young people from a range of backgrounds in areas affected by youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

In its first year StreetChance aimed to reach 5,000 young people in state schools and in local communities across London through “Street 20”, a fast-paced, more accessible version of cricket that uses a tennis ball bound with electrical tape, with games lasting for just 20 minutes.

End of year figures announced today show that the initiative actually reached 7,000 youngsters in total - 40% were girls, 67% were from black and minority ethnic communities and 4% had special educational needs.

Loughborough University’s Institute of Youth Sport evaluated the impact of StreetChance on teachers and pupils involved in the first year of the initiative, as well as those benefiting through community sessions run outside of school.

Co-author of the Loughborough University report, Ruth Jeanes, said: “StreetChance is having a number of positive benefits on the young people it is currently engaging. The inclusive sessions have motivated young people and enabled pupils with behavioural and learning difficulties to gain confidence.”

The report also found that the community cricket sessions provided a diversionary activity for youngsters and prevented them from ‘hanging about’ the streets or getting bored at home. In Southwark the initiative has even initiated contact between communities from ‘rival’ estates and encouraged them to work together at the weekly StreetChance sessions.

Mark Johnson, Partnership Inspector at Southwark Police, said: “The StreetChance programme has enabled us to deliver fun, diversionary activities through sport, providing positive role models for young people and helping to break down barriers between diverse communities which have historically never integrated. The project has successfully used cricket to allow us to engage positively with young people, and comments from members of the local community reflect a reduction in instances of anti-social behaviour while the sessions are running.”

Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Paul Stephenson added: “As one element of our youth strategy across London, the life skills that StreetChance promotes, such as teamwork and leadership, are key to a young person’s all round development. The Met is committed to understanding how it can best hear the concerns of young Londoners StreetChance has helped to promote this engagement between police and young people.”

England cricketer and StreetChance ambassador Ravi Bopara said: “The StreetChance project gives kids something to do in the evening rather than just hanging out… It can definitely be a bit of a disadvantage coming from the inner city because, unlike other parts of the country, there just aren’t the facilities.”

Bopara’s old school, Brampton Manor in Newham, is one of the 60 London schools involved in the scheme.

In the report teachers stressed the importance of cricket for teaching pupils to cope with both success and failure, while pupils acknowledged the team-work skills they had learned through the cricket sessions.

James Titley from Tower Bridge Primary School in Southwark describes how his students ‘were not able to work together before, they were barely able to work in pairs at the beginning of the year, so to see them working as a class is a beautiful thing’.

A year 8 female pupil from a participating school explains: “It’s like you have to learn to get on with one another, even if you might not like that person so much, you have to get on with it so that you can play the game well.”

Several teachers and coaches described the value of cricket for boosting pupils’ self-esteem and teaching young people discipline. Tony Joseph, one of the StreetChance community coaches working in Croydon and Lewisham, said: “One specific lad I remember was terribly behaved…it was only after I gave him responsibility and I said to him ‘you’re the captain today, you’re looking after the team’ and he basically turned into a different person during my cricket lesson, he behaved, he was involved, he wanted to take part in things.”

StreetChance 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.

Fidel Edwards shows how it's done

West Indies speedster Fidel Edwards gave his backing to StreetChance by dropping in at the inter-borough competition on May 29 at the Westway Sports Centre.

The paceman - who grew up playing tapeball cricket in the Caribbean - had a go at Street20 and sent down some fairly sharp deliveries of his own.

He even made up his own tapeball and was a real hit with the youngsters, saying: “It’s been great, a lot of fun. It’s always nice to give something back to the next generation. When I first played cricket it was with a tapeball back home in Barbados and it’s nice for the kids to see someone they watch on TV here in the flesh.”

Ealing Allstars overcame Southwark Storm in the final of the senior competition while Tower Hamlets Tigers edged past Newham Knights in the junior final, forcing a win off the very last ball.