Lycamobile and Chance to Shine Street collaborated on 25th March 2015, at the Kia Oval. They came together to aid some of the most underprivileged children off the streets and into playing cricket. The launch was hosted by the BBC sports presenter, Manish Bhasin.
The Chance to Shine Street Awards' headline sponsor is Lycamobile. The award rewards and recognises players and coaches involved in the programme. This innovative initiative was launch in 2008 in order to bring cricket to young people in urban areas, where there are few green spaces and fewer traditional cricket clubs. The charity also uses the game to promote social adherence, as well as connect young people from diverse backgrounds in varied communities.
Youth projects are currently taking place nationally in Birmingham, London, Bristol, Dewsbury, Leicester, Hull, Manchester and Liverpool. The charity recognises towns and cities that are absent of cricket provision, as well as areas within them that are socially destitute, or had high levels of crimes and anti-social behaviour.
The England and Essex all-rounder, Ravi Bopara was also at the launch at the Kia Oval. At the event, Bopara spoke about the impact Chance to Shine can have for children willing to learn cricket. “Chance to Shine Street can help massively by giving kids access to somewhere to play cricket. They just want a place to play cricket, they don’t care how it’s done and sometimes those kids don’t have the opportunity in inner-cities. Tape-ball cricket is so simple: get a tennis ball, tape it up, let’s play cricket. It speeds up the game, it’s exciting and I used to love it as a kid.”
Bopara further backed the initiative by Lycamobile for backing the street cricket programme. “It’s brilliant from Lycamobile to back the street programme, it’s very kind and I’m sure they’ll benefit from the partnership.”
