SLOUGH ALL STARS TAKE TO THE PITCH IN THE NATIONAL FINALS OF NATWEST AND CHANCE TO SHINE’S YOUTH STREET CRICKET TOURNAMENT
A community team of under-12s boys from Slough have made it all the way to the national finals of the NatWest sponsored Chance to Shine street cricket competition.
On Wednesday, the team converged on The David Ross Sports Village in Nottingham to play among 15 other teams of children from around the country and compete for the title of national champions.
England players Stuart Broad, James Vince, Liam Dawson and Katherine Brunt were there on the day too, sharing their experiences in a Q&A session and lending the Slough All Stars some moral support.
NatWest has officially partnered with the charity, Chance to Shine, and is Principal Partner of the England & Wales Cricket Board, as part of its ‘Cricket Has No Boundaries’ campaign.
The #NoBoundaries campaign is all about celebrating diversity and inclusion in cricket and making the game accessible for all. As part of #NoBoundaries, Chance to Shine Street helps get children living in disadvantaged urban areas into the game, enabling them to make friends whilst benefitting their personal and social wellbeing.
The Slough All Stars and many other budding cricketers from the area play regularly and the sessions are completely free. Street cricket, which is played with a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape, doesn’t need expansive green spaces or pricey equipment, and players can wear whatever they like.
Chance to Shine community coach for the Slough All Stars, Jaime Newell, said: “I’ve been coaching the kids for nearly six months now and the development and progress they have shown as a team has been unbelievable. They truly have a love for the sport and it’s inspiring to see them turn up week in, week out to play cricket.
“The boys in the final come from many different backgrounds. The areas they live in tend not to have many options for them to play cricket so it’s great that Chance to Shine has given us the opportunity to help the kids do something they love. They don’t need to bring any kit whatsoever as that is all provided and they get amazing opportunities to showcase their passion and skill, including the National Finals on Wednesday.”
Chief Marketing Officer at NatWest, David Wheldon, said: “We’re proud to continue to work with the ECB through our #NoBoundaries campaign to help encourage more people, regardless of their gender, age, background or beliefs, to take up the great game of cricket.
“As part of this work, NatWest is especially pleased to support the cricket charity, Chance to Shine. As we all know, a positive experience of sport at a young age can contribute to a lifetime of participation and a lifelong love of sport, making huge impacts on social and physical wellbeing.
“It’s great to have the opportunity to highlight our commitment to diversity and inclusion by supporting an initiative which really shares those values.”
