The Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) was named County Board of the Year at the Chance to Shine Annual Awards.

The GCB was recognised for its hard work supporting grassroots cricket and received their award from Duncan Fearnley at a ceremony at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

The Chance to Shine Annual Awards, supported by NatWest, celebrates clubs, individuals and schools who help to spread the power of cricket and make the charity such a success.

Luke Swanson, chief executive at Chance to Shine, said: “Our awards celebrate some truly inspiring people who use the power of cricket to ignite new passions, teach vital skills and unite diverse communities.

“The Gloucestershire Cricket Board are a shining example who richly deserves this recognition and thanks. They have made a real difference by giving so many young people their chance to shine, and we hope they will give that same opportunity to many, many more.”

The judging panel noted that GCB have been hugely successful, delivering Chance to Shine coaching in 117 primary schools, 45 secondary schools and reaching more than 30,000 children.

The judges felt that from the leadership in the office to the coaches on the ground, GCB have built a culture of high performance that permeates through everything they do.

They took full advantage of the opportunities offered to them by the ICC Women’s World Cup to provide experiences for children that create long-lasting memories.

Chance to Shine has been working since 2005 to reverse the decline of cricket in state schools. By providing coaching in schools and extra-curricular opportunities, the charity has reached more than 3.5 million young people, 46 per cent of whom are girls, in over 14,000 state schools across the country.

After receiving their award Gloucestershire Cricket Board’s Chris Munden said: “It’s unbelievable to be recognised and to be acknowledged for all the hard work that goes into providing opportunities for children to play cricket.

“A complete surprise for all of us, and I’d like to say thanks to all the coaches who deliver sessions in schools and communities across the county.”

England cricketer Jason Roy, who attended the event, said: “This has been an incredibly inspiring evening. It’s been fantastic to hear the powerful stories of the people who make cricket the amazing, inclusive game that it is. I’d like to congratulate Gloucestershire for all their hard work and dedication to the sport.”