Cleveland Basketball Club has been awarded funding from the Sport England Movement Fund to launch an ambitious new project aimed at increasing female participation in basketball across the region.

The initiatives project, titled “Girls Got Game Cleveland,” will focus on creating more opportunities for girls and young women to get involved in the sport, addressing a significant gender imbalance.

Currently, just 16% of registered basketball participants in the North East are female, a figure the club is determined to improve through targeted development and inclusive programming.

Despite being only three years old, Cleveland Basketball Club has quickly established itself as a key community organisation, alongside providing opportunities for play for seven teams, including a senior NBL side.

The organisation is particularly proud of its role as a trusted Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme provider. The club has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, accessible sessions for young people, making this latest funding success a natural next step in its growth.

The Girls Got Game Cleveland project will introduce a range of new opportunities designed to build a sustainable future for women’s and girls’ basketball in the area.
Plans include:
- Developing a new generation of local coaches and officials, offering access to formal qualifications
- Holding monthly workshops to support ongoing development in these new roles
- Introduce new regular training sessions specifically for female participants across two venues in Cleveland.
- Introduce a monthly 3x3 CVL event in the heart of Cleveland

These approach will cater to a range of abilities, providing clear pathways into both recreational and competitive basketball. The format will prioritise participation, skill development, and enjoyment, helping to create a welcoming environment for those new to the sport.

The initiative will also serve as a live controlled development environment for coaches and officials, strengthening the local basketball infrastructure and ensuring long-term impact beyond the life of the funding.

Club Chairman Thomas Robinson expressed their gratitude to those who supported the successful funding bid.

"Its a huge milestone for the club receiving this funding. I want to make sure a huge thanks goes to both Nick Holloway from Basketball England who has supported the application from concept all the way to application. As well as Stephen Mussett from Redcar & Cleveland Council who helped us pull together a strong consultation locally as well as strengthening the bid with the support of some great local organisations"

With the project set to launch in the coming months, Cleveland Basketball Club hopes to inspire a new generation of female players and continue its rapid rise as a driving force for community sport in the region.