StreetChance has truly changed me. It has helped to give me a bright future to look forward to.

Jaffer Baloch, 17
Southwark, London

People from different communities and backgrounds put all things aside for their passion of playing cricket.

Aadil, 16
Hackney

The sessions have allowed young people to speak to police out of uniform.

Police Sergeant Haroon Sadiq
Southwark, London

About StreetChance

StreetChance is a partnership between the Cricket Foundation - the charity behind Chance to Shine - and Barclays Spaces for Sports. The programme strategically partners with the Metropolitan Police Service and County Constabularies across the StreetChance cities to engage young people from a range of backgrounds in areas affected by youth crime and anti-social behaviour.

StreetChance aims to use cricket to:

  • Positively engage pupils marginalised within schools
  • Provide a diversionary activity that engages young people in communities affected by youth crime and anti-social behaviour
  • Break down barriers between diverse communities which have previously struggled to integrate, contributing to community cohesion
  • Work towards positive outcomes for young people: participation leading to training, volunteering or secured employment

Aims

StreetChance aims to increase aspiration, promote mutual respect, and enhance relationships with others, including schools, police and the wider community by providing structured coaching and competitive opportunities for young people.

Over the next three years, StreetChance aims to engage more than 16,000 young people, train and mentor more than 200 teachers, 250 local young coaches and volunteers, and to create more than 1,600 young leaders in schools, nationwide.

Where and when does StreetChance happen?

StreetChance works in urban areas lacking in green spaces where cricket is less accessible. Sessions are targeted towards areas of social deprivation; areas with large black and minority ethnic communities; and neighbourhoods identified by police where youth crime and anti-social behaviour are prevalent.

StreetChance delivers free cricket coaching in selected state schools and pupil referral units as well as community venues such as leisure centres, sports halls, youth clubs and housing estates. StreetChance community and estates projects run all year round with regular competitions in every school holiday bringing together projects within each city.

Sessions are held on weekday evenings, combining cricket coaching with an outreach hour where young people can discuss local issues with their peers and their coach. Coaches and police officers can also run educational workshops. In addition, there are police-led projects on 18 housing estates across the StreetChance cities.

Tapeball cricket

StreetChance sessions use a fast-paced version of tape-ball cricket - a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape - where each innings lasts for 20 balls and games last for just 20 minutes. It can be played with limited equipment in any contained space indoors or outdoors, so is ideal for inner city venues.

Development opportunities

StreetChance places a strong emphasis on training and developing strong leaders in the communities. A range of training opportunities are provided for those involved in StreetChance. There are young leaders’ courses in schools; a Young Ambassadors Group giving participants a voice in the running of the programme; coach education courses leading to employment for project participants over 16; and additional training for coaches, teachers and police officers where necessary.