England Women’s Cricketer Lydia Greenway and MP Tracey Crouch have introduced cricket to Bradfields School as part of the Chance to Shine programme.

Bradfields School are in receipt of a Mid Kent Chance to Shine Programme for Term 6; ‘Chance to Shine supported by Brit Insurance’ is one of the biggest grass-roots sport for development programmes ever undertaken in Britain. The Cricket Foundation charity runs Chance to Shine and aims to establish regular coaching and competitive cricket opportunities in a third of state schools by
2015.

In conjunction with the programme, England Cricketer Lydia Greenway and MP Tracey Crouch; introduced Cricket to Key Stage 2 pupils at the LD school on Friday 15th June 2012.

MP Tracey Crouch said “This is one of my favourite schools, the children are lovely and it is a fantastic opportunity for them too, I’m really pleased this day is taking place”

8 Classes, 80 children with a variety of Learning Difficulties experienced various cricketing activities delivered by Lydia Greenway with MP Tracey Crouch and KCB Cricket Development Officer Natasha Newman’s support.

Tug company Svitzer, which is based in Gravesend and has eleven tugs operating in the Thames and Medway area, has given 15 ECB Cricket Factory sets to Kent Cricket Board to support work promoting cricket across the region.

The specially designed cricket equipment will be used by development officers working with schools and community clubs and by teachers working with children with special needs in the local area. Tracey Crouch presented the School with this equipment which has been designed to encourage and develop key skills – including batting, bowling, throwing, catching and many other cricket related movements.

England Star Lydia Greenway commented after the day “This was a fantastic opportunity for the children to experience a new sport; we provided them with a variety of formats of the game which was very well received. The ECB fundamental kits which Svitzer/ECB supplied Bradfields with was a fantastic way for the children to work independently to experience the fun and competitive elements of the game. The children, teacher, Tracey Crouch and myself all thoroughly enjoyed the day”

Bradfields School will now receive regular Friday afternoon cricket coaching until they break up for the Summer Holidays.