'Don't close down our club'
Parents of youngsters who go to an after-school sports club are hoping to overturn a decision to axe it.
The Southfields Basketball Club has been running for more than 25 years, but is due to shut down in February.
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Leicester City Council has decided to stop funding the club, which meets every Friday afternoon at the Southfields Drive Sports Centre on the Saffron Lane estate.
There are about 30 youngsters, aged five to 16, who travel from across the county to play.
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Tracy Carter's daughter Grace, seven, is a member and her son Kacey, 16, used to attend the club and has gone on to earn an apprenticeship with the Leicester Riders.
Tracy, who lives in Vernon Road, off Saffron Lane, Leicester, said: "We were absolutely gutted when we found out the club was to close. It has been going for so long and the children love it.
"We know it only costs the council £1,500 a year to run so the council will not save very much by getting rid of it, and the benefits are huge. It keeps the kids fit and Kacey hopes to be able to make a career from basketball.
"We want the council to change its mind."
Grace said: "I really love the basketball club. I am sad because I can't go any more."
She has written a letter to the council asking it to save the club.
Grace and the other children pay about 50p an hour to attend. Parents have said they would be willing to pay more to keep it running.
Teresa Wright, from Desford, whose eight-year-old son Aston attends the club, said: "He was gutted. Basketball has become his thing and he chooses it over football. We wouldn't mind paying more but we can't do it without the council."
The parents are now asking city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby to rethink the decision.
A council spokesman said that Government funding for after-school clubs no longer goes to councils, but to schools.
A council spokesman said "We recognise the value of out-of-school clubs, such as Southfields Basketball Club, in supporting children's learning and well-being.
"Over the past few months, we have been working with schools and the staff who currently deliver Southfields Basketball Club to consider what options might be available.
"One idea was to develop a social enterprise but, unfortunately, no option was found to be viable."
Sir Peter said: "We've been trying to match up the organisations with schools and have been successful in a number of cases but not, so far, with this one. I hope we can persuade a school to pick this up and I will work with the ward councillors to try to do that."
Comments
by davgro
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 8:48PM
“This is a terrible shame, if someone from the club or council would like to make contact then we can look at options. dryansfe@gmail.com”
by AylestoneTige
Tuesday, November 27 2012, 7:49PM
“Perhaps if it changed its name to Jubilee basketball Peter Soulsby and the Council would be willing to spend 4 million on it instead of withdrawing £1500. This club keeps 5 to 16 year olds off the streets doing a team sport. It has been going for at least 30 years with many people going onto play with local basketball teams.”
by LewisC109
Monday, November 26 2012, 9:36PM
“pete can buy houses for groups burnt out buildings a jubalee square but can not aford a club for kids how supriseing”
by Hugo-Boss
Monday, November 26 2012, 8:53PM
“No doubt a minority charity will take the slot and get full funding by the council for it........”
by offord702
Monday, November 26 2012, 2:18PM
“The City Council have soon forgotten about Olympic legacies!
Wonder how many more sporting opportunities will go before Rio 2016.
Perhaps the new Jubilee Square could accommodate a few sports.”
by Oh_come_on
Monday, November 26 2012, 11:49AM
“There must be more to this than just losing £1500 from council funding to close the group. If all they need is to do is replace the £1500 get out fund raising. Parents are already offering to pay more than the 50p per hour they currently pay. Surely collecting donations at Riders matches and a few other charitable events could keep it going?”
by Bob491
Monday, November 26 2012, 11:45AM
“These drastic Con government cuts to town and city grants (but not to Con voting shires) will continue to impact severely on services for ordinary people for many years to come.
Meanwhile they cut taxes for millionaires!
It's one rule for them, their friends and party donors, but a very different rule for the rest of us. We need to vote them out asap before the already extensive damage becomes permanent.”
by democrat
Monday, November 26 2012, 11:31AM
“Sadly, this sort of community group is not on the radar for Sir Peter either now or in the future.
Sir Peter and his Executive Team plan to throw the homeless out onto the street to save £2.2 million over the next few years because our City leaders are determined 'to break the cycle of dependency'. Of course there is enough money for more deserving 'building' projects but that is another story.
Perhaps, if this group could combine their sporting objectives with some form of prayer or worship they will soon find that Sir Peter will loosen the purse-strings to meet their needs.”
by jdandi
Monday, November 26 2012, 10:41AM
“Let's hope a school can pick this up and bring further benefit to the community and personal health of many
Like all these cuts it's the less well to do who suffer.”