As members of Basketball Northants' NN Streetballerz programme - a by-product of the 'Carry a basketball not a blade' campaign - the players, aged 12-18, have been encouraged to see sport and art as positive activities in their lives and so during a recent young people's committee they suggested designing a mural to help improve the look and feel of the areas around the courts - where they meet to play basketball on Friday evenings.
Subsequently, Basketball Northants Chairman Martin Spencer and Funding Officer Anna Letts worked with partners, including West Northamptonshire Council Park Ranger Vikki Maloney, the Umbrella Fair Organisation, teachers at Northampton International Academy (NIA), where many of the players attend school, and art lead Marvin Mudzugo from Lemonpop Workshops - which uses art to help children and young people increase their self-esteem and simulate their creativity and imagination - to realise the project.
"It's great to be involved in a project that helps to liven up the Racecourse," said Mudzugo.
"It's been a pleasure working with NN Streetballerz and NIA. To help inspire the younger generation to do creative arts."
Mrs Swain, an art teacher at NIA, said it was great to see students 'work as a team' outside of school.
"They walk past this area daily so it is great to see them taking pride in this place. It has been brilliant to see basketball-obsessed students who claim they don't do art, getting thoroughly involved."
Funding was sourced via The National Lottery and Northampton Town Council, thanks to Councillor Jane Birch, who said she was 'delighted' to be involved in the project.
"I was absolutely delighted to work with Marvin from Lemonpop again, as well as the fantastic students from NIA who have been designing and producing this mural by the basketball courts.
"This is bringing young people together, getting them involved in something positive. They are taking ownership of the space, which means they value their environment."
The feedback from the students and players has been overwhelmingly positive too, realising the effect activities with the local community can have on people's well-being and the popularity of basketball.
"It puts colour in this area which was rather dark before. Everyone is determined to work as a team to get it done. Instead of vandalism, this is a piece of art done by the school community," said Sandu
"I think the mural and NN Streetballerz will impact kids positively. It can help them have the courage to take the right path when they're older," said Daniel.
"The mural and NN Streetballerz encourages people from the next generation not to get involved in any crime. When you come here you can get involved in basketball and other projects and feel safe," said Bilaal.
"We're doing this so we can get more people involved in basketball. It looks good, there is a focus on more activities than just sport," said Ricardo.
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