Chance to Shine and the YCB head to Stanningley Primary School.
On Monday 21st June 2021, Chance to Shine and the YCB headed to Stanningley Primary School in Leeds for the Yorkshire Tea National Cricket Week, where we had a number of activities from making cricket sets with a Blue Peter presenter, playing music with a Barmy Army legend, cricket with Yorkshire and England Ashes winning legend Matthew Hoggard, talking to Sir Alastair Cook in the classroom and also having lots of Yorkshire Tea!
The aim of the day was to encourage, involve and support cricket in and out of the classroom. Chance to Shine has been going into schools around Yorkshire to promote and develop cricket and give all of KS1 & KS2 pupils a opportunity to engage in cricket and take their skills to the local cricket club, either through the All Stars and Dynamos programmes or normal grassroots cricket clubs.
The National cricket day at Stanningley gave the pupils a way to show and talk about cricket. The day was split into four main groups where the pupils had the opportunity to learn new skills and develop existing cricket skills with the Chance to Shine coaches and Yorkshire and England legend Matthew Hoggard, who helped and gave some great advice on all aspects of the game and even gave the boys and girls a masterclass in singing one or two of his songs from the Barmy Army!
The day had a visit from Blue Peter presenter Lindsey Russell, where she helped the pupils make new cricket bats and balls out of things given by Yorkshire Tea. In true Blue Peter style, Lindsey did say "Here's one I made earlier"!
The morning sessions had a visit from Billy (The Trumpet Man) Cooper from the Barmy Army - with experience of over 10 years of traveling with the England cricket team to give the fans some musical encouragement during the games at home or abroad. Billy gave the class a taste of the songs and sounds that go around the grounds during England cricket games. The pupils were able to sing alongside him and Matthew Hoggard outside in the playground with a help from the Chance to Shine and staff members.
The Year 6 group had an extra treat with a PSHE lesson like no other; the class teacher for the day was Sir Alastair Cook, who spoke to the pupils about all things about team sports and life goals! He gave the pupils chance to ask some questions about his career and life on the farm.
The whole day was a huge success and the way the pupils and staff at Stanningley Primary School embraced the day was amazing, showing great attitude and enjoyment! Plus, the teachers never stopped going to the Little Urn Yorkshire Tea van all day!!