RCC 7 – Snaprats Basketball Club
Proposer: Robin Russell
Funding allocated: £8,456
The Proposal:
The basketball club received £8,456 from RCC Programme. The aim of the application was to set up an extra 3 hours of training per week and also train some of the current young people to become coaches, table officials and referees so that there is the capacity to begin this process and then make it possible for it to be sustainable in the long term. These young people once trained would then volunteer to run sessions outdoors in parks, which would be low or no cost and open access.
The sessions are aimed at those who would not normally get a chance to join in sport activities like basketball and attract many young people from challenging backgrounds who are often known to the police and social services yet when at the training are controlled, enthusiastic and disciplined; knowing the boundaries of attendance and behaviour when there.
The funding enabled the club to grow, and to establish an under 12s team (the Rugrats). The Club runs 4 sessions each week with 128 members and 80-95 attending every week in our clubs. There is a waiting list of young people wanting to join.
The Club undertakes community outreach in local parks, and ran beach basketball sessions. It supports the only beach basketball club in north. The club’s outreach work was the subject of a recent local TV documentary. The Club has also got involved in activities in other areas, enabling it to support development of a new club in Cleethorpes, and to undertake work around community cohesion. The club supports young people of all abilities and from all parts of town. It includes some young people with special needs; and some BME young people from the Muslim community. It works with young people facing a range of challenges, and has helped to divert young people form crime, and others into employment.
Many of the young people are unable to afford the £2.00 per session subscription but they are not prevented from joining in, rather the club and personal finances subsidies these individuals knowing the benefit they will gain in the long run.
The club works across age groups, promoting peer to peer support. The funding has successfully enabled training for young coaches and referees, with the project leader developing lesson plans which the younger coaches deliver (and adapt). All of the newly qualified members continue to be committed volunteers in practise and league game, acting as referees.
Following the funded training and coaching, two members achieved level 1 Basketball Coach Certification and one other person achieved Level 2, which is the highest level for their age group, and has led to employment opportunities. 2 Members were Awarded Level 2 Table Official Certification, and the Club now has highest qualified table judge in north of country, aged 14. 2 are trained in first aid, 3 in child protection.
The Club has developed regular new venues and continues to explore others for the players. Some of the young people have progressed so well they are now playing in a high league with some Individual Successes with five young people joining National League teams, one moving towards playing in a professional league; 1 current England international and 1 county player.
“Without the high level coaching, additional games and encouragement provided by the funding, this might not have happened. “The funding has changed lives and made big differences”.