The
aim of Midnight Basketball, which has enjoyed success in the US, the UK
and Europe, is to provide kids with
alternative activity during ‘high crime’ periods and positively assist in their
transformation into young adults.
The
not-for-profit organisation combines compulsory educational workshops with a
competitive basketball tournament to achieve this, living by its “No Workshop,
No Jumpshot (basketball game)” philosophy.
The
February pilot program held at Alexandria
Park Community
School, spanned eight
weeks, finishing in April with the basketball finals. Kids from the immediate
areas of Alexandria, Redfern and Waterloo attended, with parents, relatives,
school teachers and volunteers from the community assisting the Midnight
Basketball team with duties ranging from coaching, catering, scoring, spectating
and most importantly encouraging the kids.
The
Midnight Basketball board of directors has high aspirations to expand the
program, both in the State and nationally.
The
board commissioned the Cultural and Indigenous Research Centre of Australia
(CIRCA) to measure the level of impact of the pilot on the kids.
CIRCA
reported positive responses from all involved, highlighting its benefits for
kids from financially constrained families and the significant level of
community involvement. Midnight Basketball director Jonathon Wolfe confirmed
the board was pleased with the results.
“We
are very satisfied with the pilot meeting our objectives.
We
were particularly happy with the adoption of the program by the community which
resulted in increasing number of family members and community participants
attending over the eight week duration.”
Interest
in the next program has already stirred. Project Manager Sue Hogan said “I’ve been
fielding calls from mums, kids, school representatives. So many of the kids are
wanting to know when the next Midnight Basketball will be held”.
They
should not have to wait too long. The Midnight Basketball team is working towards
a July start to coincide with the commencement of the school term. Sponsorship money
permitting, the team intends to run the program again in Alexandria and in
addition launch two new programs at yet to be determined inner city and western
Sydney locations.
The
Midnight Basketball team will again be calling for community participants and volunteers
to assist and benefit from a rewarding experience.
See www.midnightbasketball.org.au
for contact details and further information.