Let's Do More CIC
Funding awarded - £2,500
Court Hire Transport
40-50 young people attended
AT A GLANCE:
Runs weekly free or low run additional, free to access, basketball sessions To cost basketball sessions for young people
in the Chapeltown area.
Uses basketball as a tool to and minority ethnic backgrounds, and low income improve social cohesion backgrounds. The
coaching provided seeks to inspire and reduce anti social a love of basketball and use the sport as a tool to behaviour.
WHY WAS THE PURPOSE?
To run additional, free to access, basketball sessions for young people in the Chapeltown (LS7), one of the most deprived parts of the city. Basketball disproportionately attracts young people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and low income backgrounds. The coaching provided seeks to inspire a love of basketball and use the sport as a tool to improve social cohesion and reduce anti social behaviour.
WHAT DID IT DO?
Ran weekly basketball sessions for 40-50 young people in 2 venues in Chapeltown. Sessions are welcoming and see young people from diverse backgrounds coming together. The Coaching provided a safe space for young people to reconnect with each other. Many young people had gained weight in lockdown and sessions were a way to get them physically active again.
WHAT DIFFERENCE DID IT MAKE?
The sessions enabled more young people to take part and learn a new sport. Many had never played basketball before. They developed key skills in teamwork, communication and physical fitness. Coaches, many from similar backgrounds, also gave advice on post-16 choices and shared their journeys as a source of inspiration. Parents also benefitted, knowing they can send their kids somewhere safe and not have to worry about them. "It was a way to keep them active, keep them off the streets and meet new people and just feel part of something. That's another thing that sport does ....makes you feel a part of the community. " Loran
"Hey Neighbour funding helped us to attract more kids to play basketball...it’s introduced us to kids that potentially we may not have been able to reach before"
DID THE GRANT PAY FOR?
The grant paid for basketball court hire costs which allowed sessions to be offered for free or very low cost. The grant also covered some transport costs “...is about appreciating for young people to get to sessions where this was what makes us a barrier to participation. It was “a game changer different and being for our club we are able to offer our service for willing to support the longer times and dates and meet our community communities needs”.
NEXT STEPS
Plan to keep running the sessions and to continue to seek funding to enable more young people to participate. The Hey Neighbour funding helped identify the young people that are in need of the support and who can be targetted in future.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN?
How to engage target communities to get young people involved, recognising barriers to engagement, such as money or transport. Promotion via social media is key. Build on and develop connections with schools and other organisations working with young people. Make connections with the families to gain a better understanding of what barriers might be and what’s going on at home. Having volunteer coaches from similar backgrounds to the young people can help with building aspirations.
“charging high amounts of money is a barrier for the kids that we’re working with, so when we found out about the Hey neighbour funding opportunity, we jumped on it. The application process was really easy. It catered to what we wanted to spend the money for...it was really helpful.”
BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOUR MEANS:
“…is about appreciating what makes us different and being willing to support the community we line in”
Gallery
