Our Team

We exist to empower young people to become happy, healthy and community-transformers. There are thousands of young people who can be magnetised by Basketball then led to greater wellbeing and to have a greater impact on their own community.

The connection Guardian Ballers Leaders have to positively help young people was palpable, it was deeply inspiring and a lesson in the art of engagement, connection and empathy.
Adam Rigarlsford (Strategic Lead), Sport England , November 2022
After being present at GB sessions at the Commonwealth Games Equipment Handover and Media day

Join us

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” (African Proverb)

We love functioning as a part of a wider community. Here is how you or your connections can join our journey.

“After being in a dark place during the pandemic, Guardian Ballers came at a great time and seriously impacted my life.”
Mason (Young Person)
Shared via a microphone to 200+ attendees at the ‘Guardian Ballers Life Stories’ Film Premiere

Events

Page is updated Monthly as new events for the public become available.
Connect with us on social media @guardianballersuk to get updates!

If you want to book or collaborate with us for an event, see our Programmes page for ideas then Contact Us.

I felt overwhelmed that I could have such an impact on the lives of so many young people. My confidence to communicate has grown exponentially since I started. Initially I was so anxious to speak to young people but now I feel more comfortable to speak up and help young people engage in the Guardian Ballers Sessions!
Chris George (Coventry University Sandwich-Placement Intern 22-23)

Programmes

For more infomation about our programmes or to book our services, please Contact Us

 

“Guardian Ballers has become an integral part of our School Community empowering hundreds of children to discuss their feelings and emotions openly and confidently. The elite training for our basketball teams has increased whole-school sporting participation and the results that our teams achieve. The dedication of the team to the betterment of our students' lives matches our vision for providing the best for our students both academically and for personal development of the self"
Headteacher at Multi-Academy Trust
After witnessing impact and investing weekly into Guardian Ballers partnership for over 18 months

Impact

 

If you prefer to embrace stories, make yourself a drink and watch our professionally produced “Guardian Ballers Life Stories” mini documentary. 

 

Through 2021-22 evaluations (co-created and monitored with Coventry and Warwickshire Mind), our Guardian Ballers participants also reported that: 

I felt overwhelmed that I could have such an impact on the lives of so many young people. My confidence to communicate has grown exponentially since I started. Initially I was so anxious to speak to young people but now I feel more comfortable to speak up and help young people engage in the Guardian Ballers Sessions!
Chris George (Coventry University Sandwich-Placement Intern 22-23)

Purpose

We want to empower a generation of “Guardian Ballers” that are happy and healthy, so they can transform the world around them.

 

Guardian Ballers focuses mainly on young people aged 10-25 to empower them to BALL-BE-BETTER:

BALL | Enabling engagement, progression and enjoyment in the Sport of Basketball.

BE | Educating about mental and emotional well-being, exploring the value of character and identity, as a foundation for impacting current and future life circumstances.

BETTER | Facilitating practical experiences with local charities and community organisations, to discover how to make the world better.

We act to empower young people to #BallBeBetter through a variety of Programmes such as: School enrichment delivery; Community journeys and Partnerships; Holiday Experiences and Events; Leadership growth; Charity engagement; Special events; Elite Sport Support; Intervention; Creative and Entrepreneurship development; Partnership-working with public services and Faith communities.

To tackle disparities and injustices that exist in societal, mental health and sporting statistics, we focus our delivery (not exclusively, but intentionally) on targeted communities: Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicities, those from Lower Socio-Economic backgrounds, and Females.
N.B. We do not exclude any population, but we do aim to bring equity to tackle disproportions in data.

 

A young lady told me that "she has hope" because saw me go through my challenge and can now see where I am right now.
Courage (Adult Volunteer) , April 2022
A testimony after he had shared in a Girls Community Hub "BE" Session