Barry Huskies Basketball Club gets funding boost (From Barry And District News)

Barry Huskies Basketball Club gets funding boost

11:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in Sport

THE junior sections of the Barry Huskies Basketball Club have benefited from a £1,637 grant from Sported, a charitable organisation set up in 2008 with a donation of £10million from Sir Keith Mills as his personal commitment to ensure that an Olympic legacy was left in the UK.

When Lord Coe and Sir Keith took their team to Singapore to bid for the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games in 2005, they made a number of promises. The most ambitious of those was that, if successful, they would use the Games to inspire disadvantaged young people around the world to use sport as a means of improving their lives.

The Huskies’ junior programme has its base at the Holm View Leisure Centre in Gibbonsdown, Barry. This area has, historically, suffered with social problems, but the 18-month-old junior programme has given local children an opportunity to flourish in one of the most popular sports in the world. During the last 18 months, the club have developed players who have represented Wales at under-16 and under-18 levels.

Thanks to Sported, the children have new basketballs and fitness equipment. The coaches are also delighted to have new, secure storage at Holm View.

The grant will also be used for further equipment and to provide U12 and girls’ sessions.

Girls-only sessions will be starting after Easter on Mondays, 4.30-6pm in Ysgol Pen-y-Garth, Penarth. For further details email barryhuskies@hotmail.co.uk Adrian Whitlow, senior player and junior coach of the Huskies, said: “The club are delighted to have gained support from Sported to buy equipment, including specific skill basketballs for the younger members.

“Apart from providing training and competitive matches, we are also looking to give the children valuable skills for later life and encourage them to take on refereeing, scoring and admin.

“The older players are also helping out with coaching the younger members and act as excellent role models.”

Richard Thomas, Wales manager for Sported, said: “Barry Huskies is run by a dedicated team of volunteers, parents and community representatives.

“The club provides an important intervention in a deprived area of Barry. We would like to say a massive thank you to Sported.”

Club details can be found at barryhuskies.net, Barry Huskies Basketball Club on Facebook and on twitter @Barryhuskies