As well as activity in schools, there were a number of national fundraising events, launching on National Cricket Day and continuing throughout the summer, to engage the wider cricket-loving public and to help The Cricket Foundation reach their goal of raising £50 million by 2015.
The Cricket Foundation, an independent charity, is offering all Chance to shine schools in the area a range of cricketing and classroom activities.
The Cricket Foundation, supported by MCC, is also launching a schools competition. Pupils will design a badge and motto representing the spirit of cricket with the best entry winning tickets to the second day of the England v South Africa match at Lord’s (July 11th) and seeing their design displayed on the scoreboards and made into a badge for distribution on the day.
The Director of The Cricket Foundation Nick Gandon said: “Through National Cricket Day we are celebrating what Chance to shine is already achieving and raising the profile of cricket throughout state education, while emphasising that Chance to shine is a charitable campaign dependent on further successful fundraising to accomplish our objectives.”
Chance to shine is an ambitious campaign. Last year nearly 100,000 youngsters took part in the programme and around 10,000 school matches were played. This year the campaign will reach 150,000 children in 1,850 schools. The 10-year plan is to reach two million children in a third of the nation’s state schools.