Lord Mayor backs Cricket Foundation

The Cricket Foundation's StreetChance initiative will be one of the main beneficiaries of the 2010 Lord Mayor’s Appeal.

The new Lord Mayor of London Nick Anstee has announced that his Appeal for 2009/2010, Pitch Perfect, will support the London Symphony Orchestra Discovery programme On Track and the Cricket Foundation’s StreetChance initiative. The two organisations have joined forces to bring music and sport activities to disadvantaged young people across communities in London.

ECB's Mike Gatting and England captain Charlotte Edwards will be among the Appeal ambassadors.

Lord Mayor of London Nick Anstee

During 2010, StreetChance will work across the ten east London boroughs, using 'Street 20' tapeball cricket – a fast, accessible version of the game to engage young people.

Meanwhile, LSO On Track will feature coaching of young musicians in the boroughs, who will take part in workshops, performances in bands, chamber groups and in the LSO On Track Orchestra.

By providing opportunities to play and perform in teams and groups, Pitch Perfect will support thousands of young Londoners to develop new skills and levels of aspiration, acquire confidence and self-esteem, and discover their full potential as wellrounded and productive individuals, leaders and team players.

Charlotte Edwards

A number of music and cricket-loving ambassadors are supporting Pitch Perfect. They include England and Surrey cricketer Mark Ramprakash, former England and Middlesex captain Gatting, Women's World Cup winner Edwards, award-winning lyricist Sir Tim Rice, Academy Award winning actress Emma Thompson, Sir Colin Davis, President of the London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, Principal Conductor of the LSO, Dame Evelyn Glennie, the renowned percussion player, and members of the LSO.

Thompson said: “Pitch Perfect is unique in the way it brings music and sport together. Both cricket and music have the power to transform the lives of kids by giving them confidence and helping them to learn to work as part of a team”.

Pitch Perfect aims to enable the following by 2015:

• 75,000 young people to participate in StreetChance and On Track activities across London, 60 per cent of whom will be from ethnic minority backgrounds
• 950 schools to be actively involved in StreetChance and On Track projects in two thirds of London boroughs
• 1,250 teachers to be trained, to enable continued activity beyond 2015

Highlights of the many remarkable events planned for the Pitch Perfect year include:

• Cricket Diversity Dinner, featuring cuisine drawn from all corners of the cricket world to be held at the Guildhall
• Celebrity Cricket Match when cricketing celebrities will join the Lord Mayor on his team in a match against the Royal Household XI at Windsor Castle
• Three Peaks Challenge : sponsored teams of up to eight people will take the challenge to climb and travel between the three highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales over a continuous 24 hour period
• ‘Passion and Performance’ – an exclusive dinner at the Mansion House which will be an inspiring opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of women in all walks of life. The evening will include musical performances from the LSO and solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. A number of highly regarded individuals will speak on the theme of ‘Passion and Performance’
• The London Marathon when the Lord Mayor himself will be running for Pitch Perfect – the first time a Lord Mayor has run the Marathon
• LSO St Luke’s Concert and Dinner: A Gala Dinner and Champagne Reception in the Jerwood Hall. Players from the LSO will perform with the critically acclaimed young Dutch violinist Janine Jansen
• The Grand Finale to the Appeal will be a Gala Concert and Dinner in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle