MOEEN ALI CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHANCE TO SHINE

England all-rounder Moeen Ali this week joined schoolchildren from Bethnal Green to mark the 10th anniversary of national cricket charity Chance to Shine.

The charity was launched at Bethnal Green Academy in May 2005 and since then has brought cricket back to a third of state schools, reaching over 2.5 million children, including 1 million girls.

With a week to go until the start of England's first Investec Test match of the summer at Lord's, Moeen practised with pupils from Bethnal Green Academy and Hague Primary rather than his England team-mates.

Speaking at the event, where he helped to unveil a commemorative plaque, Moeen said: "It's great to help Chance to Shine celebrate their 10th anniversary at Bethnal Green Academy. Amazing kids, fantastic charity!

“Chance to Shine is doing incredible work in our schools and communities and is having a real impact on young people, like the pupils here. It gives them confidence to raise their aspirations in life.

“It's very humbling to spend time with children starting out in the game and seeing their pure enjoyment, energy and enthusiasm. My message to them was: play with a smile on your face and always give 100 per cent."

Joining them in the playground was cricket broadcaster Mark Nicholas who co-founded Chance to Shine with former Governor of the Bank of England Lord King and renowned bat manufacturer Duncan Fearnley.

Nicholas said: "What Chance to Shine has achieved over the past 10 years is beyond our wildest dreams. We had a simple goal – to bring cricket back to state schools.

“The success of the programme so far is to be celebrated, but the job is by no means done. We will not rest until all young people have the chance to play and learn from this special game."

Chief executive of Chance to Shine, Luke Swanson, added: “Chance to Shine has been one of cricket’s undoubted success stories over the past 10 years. But it’s not just cricket. We've seen first-hand the lasting impact the game can have on a young person's confidence, motivation, aspiration and skills. And we've seen how it can instil values, break down barriers and spark lifelong friendships.

"More schools, more communities and more young people deserve those opportunities. So today we're launching a new £25million appeal to help spread the power of cricket to at least one million more young people by 2020."

As part of the charity’s ‘Second Innings’ appeal, from today and throughout the Ashes summer, donations to the charity will be matched pound for pound by long-term supporter of Chance to Shine, Adrian Beecroft. Donations can be made at www.chancetoshine.org/donate