The Nottinghamshire Cricket Board’s success in promoting cricket in inner-city Nottingham has been recognised at the Chance to Shine Awards.

The Board received the Community Cricket award after driving increased participation in cricket through the All Stars Cricket initiative.

The programme, which introduces five to eight-year-olds to the sport through activities which place the emphasis on fun, has engaged with over 1,000 children across Nottinghamshire.

The Cricket Board’s work in inner-city schools, meanwhile, has led to over 150 children enjoying their first taste of cricket despite green space being at a premium.

“There’s not always a cricket provision available in Nottingham city centre, so we saw an opportunity to get All Stars set up in schools,” said Gareth Isaac, Cricket Development Officer for Young People and Clubs.

“The schools have really bought into the whole process, and we’re looking to upscale our efforts over the next year as well.

“It’s been really important because those children wouldn’t have been able to go to a club without this opportunity.”

Scotholme Primary in Hyson Green is one of the inner-city schools which has seen the benefit of introducing cricket to its pupils.

“Cricket is an amazing sport because it offers so much development for children in so many ways,” said Kate Hall, Headteacher at the school.

“We have a hugely multicultural population, with 48 different languages spoken across the school, and a lot of our children are fervent cricket supporters.

“They came to us asking if they could play at lunchtimes, so we got involved with Chance to Shine, and soon realised the parents were mad-keen to do something as well.

“It’s all given us a real impetus to move forward with cricket in the school.”

Find out more about the Nottinghamshire Cricket Board’s work in schools here.