“We're very proud to be involved in this fantastic scheme. It not only proactively diverts young people away from crime, but also helps build and transfer positive skills onto the streets, such as teamwork and good sportsmanship.”

Gary Buttercase
Deputy Borough Commander for Newham.

LSO Discovery and LSO On Track

LSO Discovery is the Orchestra’s pioneering music education and community programme based at LSO St Luke’s – a restored, Grade 1 listed, Hawksmoor church on Old Street, close to the Orchestra’s Barbican home. LSO Discovery aims to put music education at the centre of the LSO’s work by prioritising quality, innovation and access and working with people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities.

Each year 40,000 people across London and the South East participate in LSO Discovery projects.

New technology helps the programme to reach further afield through national and international video conferencing and the worldwide web.

LSO On Track is part of the LSO Discovery programme, focussing specifically on the ten East London boroughs of the Thames Gateway, including the London 2012 host boroughs. Launched in 2008, LSO On Track has already achieved great success, reaching over 5,000 young people from a wide range of social, cultural and economic backgrounds.

Through a programme of outreach, workshops, concerts and holiday courses LSO On Track enables young, inexperienced musicians – who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity – to make music with members of the LSO. The programme also supports a young talent development programme and an extensive training programme for school teachers to help embed music in schools and provide long-term musical opportunities to East London's young people.

Click here to find out more about LSO Discovery

Cricket Foundation’s Chance to shine and StreetChance

Launched in 2005, Chance to shine is the Cricket Foundation’s charitable campaign to regenerate competitive cricket throughout the state education sector. It is rectifying years of neglect which resulted in the virtual extinction of competitive cricket in many state schools. Over the course of ten years, Chance to shine aims to engage two million boys and girls in one-third of all state schools in England and Wales. In providing opportunities for young people to play and compete in school teams – complemented by high-quality coaching, equipment provision, facility development and training – Chance to shine recognises the power of team-sports and competition to help young people develop wider skills and aptitudes. The programme will not only serve young people well in their personal and professional lives but also help their schools and communities become more rounded and supportive environments.

I think it's important for kids to get involved in cricket for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it’s a lot of fun. But it can also teach you a lot of good things – respect, self-confidence, discipline, all the things that you need to grow up as a good person.

StreetChance is a special project within the broader activities of Chance to shine. Designed specifically to bring the benefits of Chance to shine to inner-city areas, StreetChance combines activities in schools with community based sessions that employ a fast and furious version of the game called 'Street20' that gives everyone the chance to bat, bowl and field. Currently working across ten London boroughs – and in areas specifically identified by the Metropolitan Police – StreetChance is engaging schools in those parts of London where young people are perceived to be at greatest risk from crime and under-achievement.

Click here to find out more about Chance to Shine