KCB brings 250 Medway kids together to ëhave a goí at cricket

Nearly 250 pupils from three Medway Secondary Schools were invited to Sherwood Cricket Club on the 15 and 16 of September to ‘have a go“ at cricket. Sherwood CC has progressed rapidly to become a Kent and ECB Focus Club and has just delivered a highly successful Chance 2 Shine project for the first time. Kent and England batsman Lydia Greenway has become an ambassador of the project and visited Sherwood“s Rochester headquarters to help try and develop the next generation of boys and girls.

Across the two days, children from Chatham South School, The Thomas Aveling School and Greenacre Sports College were invited along to work on a number of cricket and non-cricket related skills. Lydia Greenway, and her England colleague Ebony Rainsford-Brent, were on course to help out with numerous specialist fielding drills while a mini cricket tournament also took place.

Noted as one of the best fielders in the women“s game, Lydia was clearly delighted to pass on some of her tips: “I really enjoyed sharing some of my knowledge with the youngsters. We worked on fielding, catching and throwing drills. It was good fun and the standard was surprisingly high. It was great to give people the opportunity to take part and I was delighted to get involved.”

The Army were also on hand to help improve the life skills of the year nine pupils. Activities included an inflatable obstacle course, laser-clay shooting and a team building exercise. Sergeant Steve Parrott, part of the Army Recruitment Team, was delighted to play a part in the two successful days. He said: “The Army is working with Chance 2 Shine and the Kent Cricket Board as we both share the same key values of courage, discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment. Across the two days, the youngsters learned many new skills, developed their interests and had some good fun. Sport and fitness is vitally important for soldiers and cricketers. It“s part of our job. We look forward to continuing our working partnership with Kent and Chance 2 Shine.”

Sherwood has been fundamental in starting a new Medway Girls Section, based at the Club. Tony Rossiter, the Chance to Shine Manager with Sherwood Cricket Club, says the two days couldn“t have gone much better: “It was brilliant for us as a Club and a District. Working with the Kent Cricket Board and Chance 2 Shine has proved very beneficial for us. Cricket gives children an opportunity when they exit school. We have gained lots of extra players to our Medway Girls Section and this will only help us grow and improve. The Chance to Shine project works primarily with juniors but we are also working with older children too and offering some fun for them on their own doorsteps.”

Steve Peyman, Operations Director for the Cricket Foundation, felt the event was a massive success: “We were delighted to give nearly 250 young people an opportunity to learn and play cricket in a fun and safe environment. We introduced them to cricket and army skills across the two days. Cricket shares the same core values as the Army so there is plenty of common ground. The Cricket Foundation is a national initiative and we hope to add further growth, with a view of providing more opportunities to young people.”

You can read more about the activities of Kent Cricket Board on the KCB website – just go to www.kentcricketboard.co.uk.