On The Same Page South LDN – B2B & SWR Basketball
From "THINC Fund Vote: Large Projects (£25,000-£50,000)"
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Total Amount Requested: £27,000
On The Same Page South LDN – B2B & SWR Basketball
On The Same Page South London is a partnership facilitated by community investment professionals and a collective of Black-led CVS organisations rooted in South London. Our projects follow best practice in social investment, demonstrating that Black-led organisations can collaborate effectively when supported to do so. Too often small organisations are expected to deliver partnerships without resources to cover costs, this fund’s commitment to Core Funding is therefore vital and brilliant to see.
We are developing a comprehensive South London Basketball Programme for young people aged 11–16. Building on successful delivery in Merton and Wandsworth, we seek funding to expand free provision into Southwark. The programme will be delivered by Mentivity, one of the boroughs leading youth organisations. We take a place-based approach, ensuring programmes are run by trusted local organisations with strong connections to young people.
Why We Know Basketball Works
Basketball is the second most popular team sport in the UK; especially among young people in London; but it is one of the least funded. This is a clear example inequity, as its participants are overwhelmingly from BAME backgrounds. For example, in 2023 basketball received just £500k of national funding compared to £5.65m for sailing and £3.4m for canoeing; sports that are far less relevant to the lives of young people in inner-city communities.
We began in Merton in 2024 after identifying the large youth basketball community with little or no access to safe, funded provision (similar in Lambeth & Southwark). The success of these early sessions confirmed the appetite for structured, supportive basketball programmes to date raising approx. £200k.
Our work aligns with the Lost Boys report by the Centre for Social Justice, which highlights how gangs and serious violence are fuelled by absent fathers, school exclusions, poverty, and lack of opportunity. Our programme addresses these challenges by combining positive role models, mentoring, and opportunities for achievement. Using basketball as the sport to attract young people into a safe space for personal development.
What We Will Deliver
We will provide free weekly basketball sessions in Southwark for 11–16 year olds, replicating our model in Merton and Wandsworth. Sessions are delivered jointly by professional basketball coaches and local youth mentors, giving young people both sporting skills and personal development support.
At the end of each school term we host borough-wide tournaments, creating exciting competitive opportunities that young people love. These events bring different communities together, foster pride and aspiration, and provide a positive alternative to anti-social behaviour. Please view our links below to understand the benefits of providing facilitated competition to young people.
The location will be decided via surveying young people where demand is the highest based on where their is a suitable basketball venue available.
Long-Term Impact
As the UK has recently committed an additional £11m to basketball, our programme will also prepare young people in Southwark to take advantage of new opportunities in the sport. By developing pathways into playing, coaching, and leadership, we are investing in the next generation of basketball professionals.
Ultimately, this project is about more than sport. It is about building a collaborative South London ecosystem that nurtures young people through mentorship, positive role models, and community pride. By providing safe spaces, trusted support, and inspiring opportunities, we will help BAME young people in South London to thrive. ‘It takes a village to raise our children’
Listen to our participants, parents and key stakeholders
South West Runs – Merton Tournament (Launch 2024 supported by 15+ orgs)