Evening Standard fund backs Croydon teen's path to success

A sports charity's initiative in Croydon has been instrumental in transforming the life of a young woman named Grace, providing her with confidence and pathways to employment. Greenhouse Sports, which offers basketball coaching and mentoring, has seen participants like Grace develop life skills and achieve personal goals. The Evening Standard's Dispossessed Fund has recognised this impact by pledging £500,000 to support Greenhouse Sports and similar organisations.

Grace, now 25, first encountered Greenhouse Sports in her Year 8 PE classes at a Croydon school. She described the experience of playing basketball as liberating, a stark contrast to other school sports she found restrictive. The sport offered her a passion and a sense of belonging, particularly through the support of her coach, Alexandra Raymond. This relationship provided Grace with a confidante and mentor, helping her navigate teenage challenges and pursue opportunities beyond her immediate circumstances.

From Deprivation to Opportunity

Growing up in a low-income household with strict immigrant parents, Grace felt a sense of deprivation and exclusion. She often missed out on experiences her peers enjoyed due to financial constraints and early curfews. However, Greenhouse Sports helped shift her focus from what she lacked to what she could achieve. Coach Raymond encouraged Grace to aim high, creating sporting opportunities and introducing her to trials that led to her playing National League basketball and gaining coaching qualifications.

The mentoring aspect of the programme proved particularly significant. Grace found she could confide in Coach Raymond about personal matters, and the coach actively worked to help ease parental restrictions, enabling Grace to participate in basketball activities outside her local area. This support extended to her professional development. Greenhouse Sports encouraged Grace to apply for an internship at M&C Saatchi, an opportunity she secured and which led to subsequent employment.

Grace's success has had a ripple effect. By her early twenties, she was earning more than her parents, a milestone that inspired her father to pursue a degree in business management. Grace now lives independently and is financially stable, able to support her younger siblings. She credits Greenhouse Sports with playing a significant role in her achievements, from career goals to improved family relationships.

Sporting Chance Campaign

The Evening Standard's Dispossessed Fund has committed £500,000 to the Sporting Chance campaign. Half of this amount will directly fund Greenhouse Sports' programmes in five London secondary schools, aiming to reach up to 500 children. The remaining £250,000 will be distributed among four other charities offering similar coach-mentoring initiatives in various sports. The campaign is actively seeking donations from corporations, foundations, philanthropists, and the public to expand its reach and support more disadvantaged young Londoners.