Project Name: Basketwise: Esteem Through Sport

Location: Northumberland, Sedgefield and Chester-Le-Street



The Challenge

The Basketwise program is another vehicle that the Youth Charter has created to reach today’s youth. We feel all children should be given the opportunity to see the potential that is deep inside them.

The aim is to provide school aged children with the basic skills of basketball as well as providing them with information on how to adopt a healthy lifestyle by eating healthily and exercising.



The Approach

Northumberland

Funding was granted by the Local Education Authority and also from individuals.
Working together with Northumberland Education Authority, coaching and mentoring sessions were delivered.



Sedgefield

Funding received via County Durham Foundation to deliver a nine month project of coaching and mentoring to high school pupils at the following schools: Ferry Hill Technology College and Sedgefield Community College, and a number of primary schools attached to these to High Schools.

The project was developed in partnership with the Sedgefield School Sports Coordinator.



Chester-Le-Street

Funding received via County Durham Foundation to deliver coaching and mentoring sessions to primary school children.



The Benefits

All the projects have been either completed or are near completion as we go to print. The feedback that we have received from participants has been very positive.



The Experience

“ETS has made me grow into a more confident person on and off the court. I focus more at what I am doing and don’t give up when things get tough. This has helped me to become a good basketball player and a hard working person. Without ETS I wouldn’t have the skills I do today. Over the years spent with ETS I have learned skills that are needed to succeed on the court and also to succeed in my personal life. I have also realized that what you do off the court affects how you do on the court. And what you do on court reflects you’re off court personality.”

Pixie



Key Recommendations

Since February we have set up a Saturday Basketball Club at Blyth Leisure Centre we currently receive between 20-25 people each week ages range from nine to twenty three. It’s our desire to create a number of teams to enter regional leagues commencing in September 2007.



Key Quote

“ETS has changed my life in a lot of ways, ever since I met Carl and Alan for the first time, they changed my life. From the start they made my life much better and changed my view on life. The first thing they taught me was that I was special and no one should tell me otherwise.” Perry