World Cup competition in city’s west end proves a Street ahead
THE Northumberland Cricket Board and community sports group Hat-trick joined forces to run a hugely-successful Chance to Shine street cricket project in the west end of Newcastle.
The pair have been working together for three years and have seen the impact of the programme continuously grow over that time.
On the back of the success of the England Cricket team in the 2019 Cricket World Cup, a World Cup-themed competition was staged between different groups at Nunsmoor and Leazes Park.
Participants were each given a free t-shirt to represent a different country from the Cricket World Cup and took part in a series of games and challenges against other teams.
Two squads who enjoyed the most success were a Bangladeshi group looking to establish a cricket club on the site of Nunsmoor Park and a group of Syrian and Libyan children who had had little prior experience of the sport.
Kate Codling from Hat-trick said: “This session started in March when one of the parents was very keen for young people to participate in sport.
“Through engaging them in multisports, the Chance to Shine project came about which encouraged them to try cricket - a sport they would not normally choose to play.
“The feedback has been fantastic many of the young people now understand how enjoyable cricket can be and want to play each week.”
James Morgan, the NCB’s Cricket Development Officer. said: “We have participants in attendance from all different races, religions and nationalities but sport is the common thing they all have a passion for and keep coming to do more of.”
It is hoped the street project can expand to more areas of the city.