Since 2016, ALMT has worked with Chance to Shine to run a successful programme of specialist cricket activities in Hospital Schools across London. These sessions reach young people at some of the most challenging moments of their lives, providing them with valuable opportunities to play, learn and get active through cricket. Last year the project worked with over 100 children at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Royal Marsden Teenage Cancer Unit. T

he ALMT are supporting Chance to Shine and Capital Kids Cricket to continue their work with existing hospital schools and extend it to launch a programme at Lavender Walk Mental Health Unit in Chelsea. This is a dedicated unit for young people aged 13-18 who are experiencing complex mental health problems, offering inpatient care and long-term treatments, as well as onsite schooling to maintain engagement with education during their care. The project aims to give children respite from their treatment and reduce periods of isolation in the four hospital schools and improve physical and emotional wellbeing. By enjoying physical activity children can interact with others in an informal way and bring some normality to their lives. This can improve the ability of health professionals and medical practitioners to gauge the progress of their patients by observing their activities and improve engagement with other areas of school life. Chance to Shine and Capital Kids Cricket are going to provide evidence on the impact of this model for young people with mental health problems by evaluating the cricket sessions at Lavender Walk.