Organisations, clubs and groups can access up to £15,000 to deliver positive change through sport and physical activity, with the funding supporting projects that provide opportunities for people and communities facing the biggest barriers to being physically active.
According to the government body’s figures for the first six months of the fund (May to September 2024), nearly £200,000 has been allocated to the basketball community, with Basketball England, its regional committees and partners supporting over 70 clubs with their funding applications.
Club and Volunteers Development Manager Nick Holloway believes that the reason basketball projects have been successful in receiving grants is because the sport is in a unique position to support Sport England (SE) with its goals set out in the Uniting the Movement strategy, ie removing barriers, connecting communities and getting people active.
“Basketball is incredibly diverse and accessible, with both genders and people from all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds playing the game,” said Holloway.
“It therefore can support Sport England in giving more people a chance to be active, like few other sports can. Additionally, our clubs and members have been proactive in working with us to go after this funding and create more great basketball playing experiences.”
Holloway says the grants awarded have been for a myriad of things, such as Slam Jam sessions, starting local leagues, money for coaching and officiating qualifications, as well as more opportunities for women and girls to play ball – a priority group listed in the SE strategy.
“The funding has been particularly helpful for basketball clubs and leagues wanting to increase girls’ participation. Around 21% of our membership base is female and probably 80% of our successful funding bids have been to get girls playing basketball,” added Holloway.
Basketball Sussex’s brand-new central venue league (CVL) is one such Movement Fund beneficiary that has created more playtime for girls, giving them and their male counter-parts a great developmental touch-point with the sport.
Chair of Basketball Sussex and Horsham Hawks Brenda Holden started the CVL this autumn after working with Holloway on a grant for £6,000.
The idea? To give U10s to U14s more game time and develop their confidence, as well give new referees and table officials the chance to gain more experience.
“We found that the dropout level because of a lack of confidence, was really, really high,” said Holden.
“Kids would come in, they wouldn't get off the bench, they'd get demoralised, they'd stop playing. A collective of us said, ‘right, let's try and get them playing however we can and get their confidence up’.
“It's also given referees and table officials the opportunity to develop as well. And if you've got a level one coach or somebody who's thinking about coaching, it’s an opportunity for them to coach in a comfortable, safe environment.”
So far, the CVL has benefitted over a hundred boys and girls from clubs across the region, including Horsham Hawks, Brighton Cougars, Worthing D&D, Shoreham Spartans and Sussex Storm.
Holden hopes to run the league again next season.
Under 10 and 11 basketball coach and former BBL pro Dan Midgely says the CVL has been invaluable to his Sussex Storm players.
“Central venue leagues are great because there’s multiple games. [It allows players to] make mistakes and we can learn from them and make improvements for the next game. It's important for the guys to get minutes and play. We always support these programmes. The more they play, the better they get,” said Midgley.
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