Chance to shine is a national campaign delivered through individual projects taking place throughout every part of England and Wales. In Dorset we are running seven schemes in 2010 based in Parley, West Dorset, Portland, East Dorset, South Dorset, North Dorset and Blandford.

Each project provides a structured coaching and competition programme for a group of, on average, six primary and secondary state schools. The group of schools is supported by professional, qualified coaches engaged by one local cricket club.

In addition to training the coaches to work in a school environment, we also provide equipment, facility development and training for teachers and coaches.

In 2008, Chance to shine delivered 300 projects involving 300 cricket clubs and engaging over 2,000 schools. The programme will expand each year through an additional 100 clubs and 600 schools and, subject to funding, will ultimately reach one third of all state schools and support two million young people, initially, over a ten-year period.

The Cricket Foundation is committed to funding each project for a minimum period of five years and is working with schools and clubs to help them to sustain their cricket activities.

Chance to shine will serve cricket well but it is not in itself a campaign for cricket. The clear motivation behind Chance to shine lies in recognising the power of competitive team sports – and cricket in particular – to help young people develop skills and attitudes that will help them in all aspects of their future lives.

Cricket has special attributes:

• Cricket promotes leadership, teamwork and strategic awareness. It teaches respect, how to win, to lose and cope with setback.
• Cricket is the ultimate team game. It demands both individual and collective responsibility.
• Cricket insists upon high standards of conduct and provides good role models.
• Cricket teaches leadership and team-work, as well as strategic awareness and risk-taking.
• Cricket is wholly inclusive and draws together people from all cultures and backgrounds. It gives opportunities to boys and girls, as well as to those with disabilities.
• Cricket is able to reach all of our major ethnic communities in a way no other sport can.

An independent evaluation of Chance to shine undertaken by The Institute of Youth Sport has confirmed that we are succeeding in delivering these educational benefits.