Brixton Bounce (BB)

Total amount requested: £36,000

In the heart of Brixton, a silent crisis is affecting our young people. Pressures on mental wellbeing, poor health, a lack of safe spaces, and the risk of being drawn into crime and anti-social behaviour are daily realities. BB is our direct, proactive response. This 12-month project uses the power of basketball and trusted, street-level youth work to reach, support, and empower over 150 young people where they are, both physically and emotionally.

This funding will deliver a robust, dual-pronged programme of engagement and support:

·       Consistent, Accessible Activity: 104 open-access basketball sessions and 6 free school-holiday camps, providing a safe, constructive outlet for energy, stress, and frustration.

·       Proactive, Trust-Based Outreach: 104 weekly detached youth work sessions on Brixton's estates, building relationships with hard-to-reach young people in their own environments, promoting health and wellbeing and positive engagement.

·       Tangible Pathways: Training for 5 local people as qualified basketball coaches/officials and recruiting 7 volunteers, building skills and community capacity from within.

·       Direct Support & Signposting: On-the-spot guidance, mentoring, and low-threshold signposting to professional mental health services, helping young people navigate challenges.

·       Community Connection: Promotion in 10 local schools and 1 community-wide event to ensure inclusivity and celebrate collective achievement.

This project is intentionally designed for young people in Brixton, with a focus on those from underserved backgrounds who face the greatest barriers. We prioritise:

·       Young people experiencing or at risk of poor mental health.

·       Those disengaged from education or employment, and vulnerable to exploitation, crime, or gang activity.

·       Those who require a healthier lifestyle 

·       Individuals who do not typically access traditional youth services or funded programmes.

By meeting them in familiar, safe spaces, from the basketball court to their local estate, we break down barriers, ensuring our support is truly inclusive and community-led.

The project was co-designed with young people through two focus groups involving 54 participants, along with consultations from three community organisations and two schools to ensure community needs were met, and the final proposal was then fed back to the young people for their feedback and formal sign-off.

The £36,000 investment will be transformative. It will fund the vital staffing, training, and activity costs to make this project a reality. For our community, the difference will be seen in:

·       Improved Wellbeing: Young people reporting higher self-esteem, resilience, and coping strategies, with reduced feelings of anxiety and isolation.

·       Increased Safety: A tangible reduction in vulnerability as young people gain positive alternatives, trusted adult relationships, and a sense of belonging.

·       Brighter Futures: Young people equipped with practical skills, qualifications, and raised aspirations, ready to pursue opportunities to support Brixton, and obtain volunteering and employment opportunities.

Our success is grounded in our proven model and deep roots. Brixton Top Cats is not an outside intervention; we are a trusted part of the community's fabric. Our track record of delivering sustained impact, combined with an innovative methodology that blends sport with targeted youth work, creates a powerful formula for change. We don't wait for young people to find us, we engage them proactively, building the trust necessary to make a lasting difference. 

We have been serving Brixton for 40 years. We want to extend our support to the community and this funding will help build youth wellbeing, reduce vulnerabilities, and create brighter futures by establishing cultural gateways to alternative lifestyles, widening horizons, and raising aspirations to achieve realistic goals for young people in Brixton.

https://haveyoursay.lambeth.gov.uk/en-GB/ideas/brixton-bounce-bb