CRICKET ISN’T JUST A GAME – IT’S A COMMUNITY When the doors opened for our brand-new Chance to Shine Street Cricket Club in Barton Manor School, we hoped for a strong start – but what we got was something truly special. 26 young players turned up on day one, setting a new record for an opening session in Kent. The energy was electric. Bats swung, balls flew, music played, and the hall buzzed with excitement as young cricketers from all backgrounds and genders came together. Some had played cricket before, many hadn’t – but that didn’t matter. Street Cricket is about fun, fast-paced action, and Canterbury delivered it in style. A TRUE COMMUNITY EFFORT This success wasn’t just down to the players – it was driven by the community itself. With the invaluable support of local councilor Connie Nolan, the club had the backing it needed to thrive from day one. But what truly sets this story apart is the Kayani family – not only do their children attend, but now Sultan and Tayyab (father and eldest son) are already working towards their coaching qualifications to help run the sessions, with added support from their daughter Aqsa. And they’re not alone—week after week, more parents are stepping forward, offering their support and becoming part of this growing cricket family. With momentum growing and more young people getting involved every week, Canterbury is quickly becoming a shining example of what Street Cricket can achieve. STREET CRICKET FESTIVAL The first-ever STREET SLAM cricket festival brought together over 30 young players from various Street Cricket Hubs across South East London – and what a day it was! With five thrilling games, young people from hubs like Hither Green, Deptford, Kidbrooke, and beyond showed off their skills, energy, and love for the game. The matches were fast, fun, and full of highlights – big hits, diving catches, and non-stop encouragement from the sidelines. In a dramatic finale, Hither Green edged ahead to claim the trophy – winning the STREET SLAM by just 4 runs in one of the closest finishes we’ve seen! Every team brought their best, making it a day of true sportsmanship, teamwork, and celebration. A HIT WITH PARENTS, TOO It wasn’t just the players who had an incredible time – parents were full of praise for the event and the hard work behind it: Street Cricket takes cricket into the spaces where young people already are - school halls, leisure centres and community venues across Kent and South East London. It removes the usual barriers of cost, kit and experience, creating free, fast-paced clubs where young people can play, belong and build confidence. 4 5 WHAT’S NEXT? With such a strong response, STREET SLAM is now firmly in the calendar as an annual event, hosted at The County Ground, Beckenham – giving even more young players across South East London the chance to shine. GROW THE GAME OPEN TO ALL FORCE FOR GOOD “ Thank you Juan and the team for the great tournament. Glenn has really picked up cricket – it’s his favourite sport. STREET CRICKET 12 482 HOURS DELIVERED OUR STREET CLUBS Our Street Clubs provide free weekly cricket in communities where traditional club access can be harder to reach. Across Kent and South East London, the programme is building local hubs that give young people a regular place to play, make friends and feel part of something. 303 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATING CLUBS RUNNING YEAR-ROUND
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