Redditch community club in battle to survive beyond July - The Redditch Standard

Redditch community club in battle to survive beyond July

Redditch Editorial 29th May, 2015 Updated: 18th Oct, 2016   0

A CLUB that’s become a sporting refuge for Redditch youngsters is facing closure at the end of July.

Redditch in the Community, run by the town’s basketball club, has grown from giving just a handful of teens a place to go in the evening to catering for 35 or more at its Trinity High School headquarters.

Launched last year with funds from the Big Lottery Awards for All scheme, the money runs out this summer unless more can be found.

“We used to be youth workers in Redditch but that’s all gone now with the cuts and there was nothing for kids in the town to do,” said organiser Luke Freer, who worked for the Tottenham Hotspur community youth project in London.




“We started Redditch in the Community as an outreach programme and its grown every week since then.

“And although it’s run by Redditch Basketball Club, the youngsters decide what they want to do and we nearly always end up playing football, which is fine.”


With an age range of 11 to 19, the club allows people from different backgrounds, cultures and communities mix, helping to build bridges between them.

“It’s made a massive different in terms of integrating the different communities,” said Luke. “It’s also a professional set-up. We run a mentoring service with advice on CVs, finding jobs and moving forward as well as emphasising the importance of eating healthily.”

The club runs from 7.30pm to 9pm on Thursdays evenings at Trinity and all are welcome to go along.

If anyone can help with club sponsorship, call Luke on 07704 902392.

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