Greenhouse Sports receives £500,000 boost for youth programmes

The Sporting Chance campaign, a joint initiative by The Standard and Greenhouse Sports, has secured a £500,000 pledge from The Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund. The campaign focuses on using sports coaching and mentoring to improve the life chances of young Londoners growing up in areas affected by poverty.

Funding for London Schools and Charities

Half of the £500,000 pledge, amounting to £250,000, will directly fund Greenhouse Sports programmes operating within five secondary schools across London. The remaining £250,000 will be distributed to four other charities that offer coach-mentoring in disciplines including football, boxing, martial arts, and kayaking.

Greenhouse Sports' Reach and Philosophy

Greenhouse Sports, which has its community centre in the Church Street ward of Westminster, has supported over 100,000 children since its inception and currently assists 8,000 young people each year. Jason Sugrue, Director of Coaching at Greenhouse Sports, stated that the charity's emphasis has shifted from solely developing players to nurturing the overall development of the child.

Mr Sugrue, a former British and Irish Men's Table Tennis Champion in 2006, explained that his coaching philosophy evolved after becoming a father. He now prioritises fostering a connection and providing care from trusted adults, recognising this as more beneficial than solely focusing on athletic performance for young people facing challenges.

The charity offers basketball, table tennis, and tennis in schools, with participants contributing approximately one-third of the programme costs. Greenhouse Sports also organises holiday camps and employability sessions, with around 45 per cent of its participants being female.

The Impact of Mentoring

The Sporting Chance campaign is seeking further donations from corporations, philanthropists, and the public to extend its reach. The article highlights the transformative impact of sports mentoring, citing the example of Zion Boumpoutou, a former participant who became a coach. Mr Boumpoutou credited his Greenhouse coach with providing the support that helped him avoid gang involvement in his youth.

Mr Sugrue, who mentors 60 coaches, chose to remain with Greenhouse Sports rather than accept a position as performance coach for the British Olympic table tennis team in 2016, believing the charity's work in improving life chances for disadvantaged young Londoners is more significant.

Donations to the campaign can provide various levels of support, from enabling a young person's access to programmes for a week (£15) to providing a full year of coaching and mentoring (£800).