Learning Partnership West CIC used a grant of £2,000 for a basketball project for young people in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire.

The grant supported an established Friday night basketball session in Kingswood, an area with an Index of Multiple Deprivation of 3. The basketball project evolved from a detached outreach project that began in around 2019, targeting young people in a priority neighbourhood on the outskirts of Bristol. Many were carrying weapons, involved in gangs and drugs, and engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Through weekly detached sessions, the charity’s Engagement Workers built rapport with the young people, engaging them in conversations that helped them to see they could make alternative choices and where they could use sport to improve their health, wellbeing and safety.

Now between 15-30 young people aged 11-30 regularly attend, with most in their late teens/early 20s. During the project they have built meaningful peer-to-peer relationships, as well as with a professional youth worker. The session offers a semi-formal physical activity session they would otherwise be unlikely to access. They benefit from increased movement and fitness, developing their playing skills, being part of a team, and informally mentoring younger players (or taking positive instruction from older ones).

“Funding from the High Sheriff programme has made a significant impact on this project’s viability as many funders won’t fund staff costs.”