Durham Cricket’s work with Lanchester EP Primary School has been featured in the 2020 Chance to Shine Impact Report, detailing the charity’s work.
Lanchester Primary’s cricket journey is included as one of ten case studies, outlining stories of children, schools and clubs that have benefitted through Chance to Shine’s programmes in the previous Academic Year.
The school worked closely with Durham Cricket’s Development Officer Phil Mellons and Lanchester Cricket Club to provide opportunities for children inspired by the sport in their Chance to Shine sessions, to continue playing outside of school.
The programme, delivered by Durham Cricket, inspired 54 children to sign up to Lanchester Cricket Club’s All Stars Cricket sessions, accounting for 90% of the overall attendance to ECB’s entry-level programme in the club.
Since Lanchester EP received Chance to Shine cricket sessions for the first time in 2019, the sport has really taken off across the school and PE Teacher Lewis Graham, says there is now
a big demand for more cricket – including amongst children who are usually less active in classes.
He said: “It’s basically taken over break times, lunch clubs, afterschool clubs. A lot of children just want to play cricket now, so it’s fantastic.”
Staff at the school have fully embraced the programme too. Durham Cricket Coach Phil Mellons said: “The school staff have been absolutely unbelievable. They’re constantly engaged with the kids, they’re involved in the sessions. They actually video the sessions so they can replay the games when we’re not there!”
Phil’s delivery has played a role in engaging pupils, according to Lewis, who said: “Phil’s been absolutely outstanding. He’s just so enthusiastic about the sport and it just rubs off onto the children, he’s just been amazing.”
Last year the school was also named Primary School of the Year at the Chance to Shine Awards, making the project at Lanchester EP a success story for Durham Cricket.