IT might be bleak midwinter but a host of cricket clubs are already preparing for a challenging summer.

One hundred clubs throughout England and Wales have been selected to carry forward the Chance to Shine project, which aims to rejuvenate competitive cricket in state schools.

And, Pershore CC who have benefited immensely from their junior activity at The Bottoms during recent years, are one of three clubs in Worcestershire to be involved in this programme.

The club's role will be to engage qualified coaches to provide high-quality cricket programmes through instruction and competitions.

The Chance to Shine initiative has been carefully planned and costed to make an enduring impact.

It has been set up by the independent charity, The Cricket Foundation, and began with a successful pilot scheme during England's glorious Ashes summer last year when 12 clubs and 75 schools were involved.

Over the next ten years, the aim is to reach about a third of primary and secondary schools in England and Wales. For many boys and girls it will be their first experience of playing our summer game and enjoying the considerable health and educational benefits that flow from it.

The pilot project last year was enthusiastically embraced by the schools. One teacher in Neath commented: "Chance to Shine has freshened up the PE curriculum for us. The children have loved it and it's given a real structure to our lessons."

Chance to Shine is being financed by an appeal aimed at raising £25m over five years through corporate sponsorship and private donors.

There's a commitment from the government to match the funding pound for pound. Sport England has recently announced a £2m investment in the campaign.