THE future of cricket for youngsters across the county is looking bright after the Kent Cricket Board (KCB) announced a £500,000 investment to support coaching in schools.

The aim is for the county board to continue delivering high quality spring and summer term coaching and competition programmes within existing primary and secondary schools across Kent.

The aim of the Kent Cricket School Programme, meanwhile, is to inspire children and their teachers to experience the sport while also developing life skills and sporting potential.

Clair Gould, director of operations at KCB, said: "Our involvement in Chance to Shine has been fantastic so far.

"We have seen an increase in the number of young players attending our clubs as a direct result of our coaching in schools.

"It has also helped to increase the profile of our clubs and Kent Cricket Board's support to grass roots sporting activity, and we will continue to forge stronger links with more local schools. "With this additional support from the Cricket Foundation, plans are in place for an expanded programme to cover the next four years."

Steve Peyman, operations director at the Cricket Foundation, which raises funds and delivers the Chance to Shine programme through the 39 county boards, said: "Our clubs are the backbone of Chance to Shine and are critical to the success of the programme.

"The county board help to coordinate the delivery of high quality coaching and competitions to schools and, as a result, over 39,509 children have joined local clubs from schools since Chance to Shine launched in 2005."

Lydia Greenway, England ladies' international, Ashes winner and Chance to Shine ambassador, said: "I went to a state school which didn't play cricket but was lucky enough to be given the chance to play because of my dad.

"But there are literally millions of youngsters out there who will never be given the opportunity and that is sad.

"What Chance to Shine has done is fantastic. The main aim is just to get more people playing from an early age and also to encourage them to play the game at whatever level they are comfortable with."

Last year almost 350,000 boys and girls in nearly 4,000 state schools across the country, participated in over 45,000 cricket matches through Chance to Shine.