BiG Storage Cheshire Jets have launched their “Hoops for Health” initiative in the town, which aims to promote the sport as well as giving children a platform for healthy living.
Delivered by professional players from the team, 18 of the town’s schools have benefited from the programme, meaning 1,500 children have already experienced the re-birth of the sport across the borough.
Key areas such as healthy eating, not smoking, the importance of alcohol management and the integration of physical activity, all feature in the Hoops for Health scheme. All lessons within the programme have been tailored to the requirements of the National Curriculum and will be delivered by fully qualified community coaches as well as the players. Owner of Warrington based company BiG Storage, Andrew Donaldson, who has backed the basketball team to the tune of £250,000 over the next four years, commented: “The healthy living messages being delivered through contemporary and accessible role models is so important to the future well being of the youngsters of the community. What better way to present this than through a sport that is fun, popular and something that the children can participate in.”
The company, situated on Manchester Road, are the official sponsors of the Chester based basketball side which has plans to play matches in Warrington at Birchwood.
Mr Donaldson added: “The Hoops 4 Health programme was one of the major factors in our decision to sponsor the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets. The promotion of a healthy lifestyle message really struck a cord with both my self and my employees who had children going through the education system.”
Partnership Development Manager for Warrington, Paula Pearson, added: “This is a really positive move for the Warrington Schools who are taking part. Hoops 4 Health is an excellent way to help achieve being healthy, one of the main outcomes of the Government Green Paper Every Child Matters. It is suitable for boys and girls to participate together, which in itself is a good thing as it encourages respect between the sexes at an early age and integrates them into a shared activity. We are really looking forward to working with the Jets who are really enthusiastic about the aims of the programme.”
Basketball made a big impact in the town in the 1980’s when the Spectrum Striders was launched at Spectrum Arena before moving on to Manchester.
