Gloucestershire Cricket Board’s Easton StreetChance named as Cricket Foundation’s project of the year
10 July 2013
The Gloucestershire Cricket Board’s Easton StreetChance has been named as the Cricket Foundation’s project of the year.
The GCB’s Chris Munden and players from the Easton scheme received the award from England one-day coach Ashley Giles at a glittering ceremony at Lord’s hosted by BBC presenter Manish Bhasin.
StreetChance national operations manager Richard Joyce said: “Easton was definitely a stand-out winner for this award as the project has accomplished so much in its first year. The team in Bristol has worked tirelessly to get the session up and running and done a tremendous job in teaching participants key cricket skills and key life skills.”
Designed to get young people aged 11-18 off the street by offering them a free, fun and accessible cricketing experience, the Easton scheme is one of four StreetChance initiatives currently running in Bristol. As well as offering cricket coaching the project has also helped educate youngsters on social issues including drugs, crime and gang culture.
Chris – who is the GCB’s projects and programmes manager - said he was delighted with the award: “To have been chosen as the best project in the country is amazing. When we started a year ago we had six players, we now have 22 and it has been great to see it grow. Over that time the players have developed both their cricket and social skills and it is their enthusiasm that has helped make the sessions so successful.”
StreetChance features a shortened, fast-paced version of cricket called Street 20 which is played with a tennis ball wrapped in tape. The sessions have proved so popular that they have encouraged a number of the young people to join local clubs and take up the more traditional form of the game.
During the awards ceremony the audience heard from Easton StreetChance coach Darron Hamilton who held a question and answer session about the project.
He said: “The sessions have been fantastic. As well as introducing new people to the game they have encouraged others to stay in cricket. Some young people find a traditional club environment too competitive or too structured but by taking part in these fun sessions they have re-found their enjoyment of the game.
“They have also had a massive impact socially. We have had a PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) come down and get involved and it has shown the youngsters that they are human as well. After the session they were talking about the issues in their community and it helped to break down barriers. It has also brought them into contact with young people from different schools and nationalities.”
Darron also said the experience of visiting the home of cricket also had a big effect on the youngsters.
He added: “They really enjoyed it and I am sure it will stay with them. It is something that they would never normally have had the chance to do and hopefully it will inspire them to keep playing.”
For more information on the scheme in Bristol visit http://www.gloucestershirecricketboard.com/index.php/schools/streetchance or contact Chris Munden on 07557 924941 or email chris.munden@glosccc.co.uk
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