The club will use basketball as an activity to convey positive health messages, such as the importance of physical exercise and eating healthily. The project aims to expand in order to improve young people’s employment opportunities through employment skills training, providing support in gaining qualifications and gaining work experience through volunteering.

Nigel Hanson of Aston Athletics Basketball Club said:

“with a total project budget of £ 770,000 “Hoops4Health’s importance lies in the opportunity to create a lasting social legacy through the use of basketball for social change over the next five years.”

Hoops4Health will educate 10,000 children whilst developing 50 new grass roots basketball clubs that will use sport, health education and fun as a catalyst for social change. The project aims to provide better opportunities of health education to children, training for young people and employment opportunities for adults living in some of the regions most deprived areas.

If you would like to be involved in either a paid or unpaid role please contact the Birmingham A’s on hello@.babasketball.co.uk

For the past couple of weeks, we have been working on a project for “Beyond 400 LTD”, a corporate venture by Daniel Caines – former 400m World and European Champion and Great Britain olympian.

We recently had a photoshoot for the project at Tudor Grange Athletics Track in Solihull (West Midlands). Prior to the shoot was a sports event for a local school in Solihull, for which Daniel Caines presented the awards to the winning teams. We were assisted by a volunteer, Karen Nizzer, recent LLB Graduate from the University of Birmingham.

“Karen was a trooper today. Very willing to help in every way and definitely contributed in making the day a success”

The crucial phases of the Beyond400 project are due to be completed by mid August. To be informed of the launch of the website and further info, visit http://www.beyond400.co.uk and leave your email address in the box.

Visit our facebook page for more pictures, news and interaction.

John was a great guy to meet and we got to briefly chat about his recent OBE and various other topics regarding his past pro career and current ventures.

It was an all-day event, with the morning and early afternoon sessions being the training camps, then the Shropshire Warriors’ minis awards, which John Amaechi

presented alongside the Lady Mayoress of the city of Telford. The evening was the Shropshire Warriors’ award presentation to all of their senior teams. We were able to mingle with the guests, the staff and various members of the Shropshire Warriors’ organisation.

Pictures will be available soon.

Over the past 5 months substantial and thorough planning has taken place which we believe will give the club the opportunity to realise some of its huge potential. We are really excited that the implementation of this plan will soon begin starting with the rebranding of the club in March 2011” Rob Palmer – Head Coach

“The aim of the logo was to show a more dynamic fresh look that represented the new direction the club is heading. The colour Scheme was designed to tie in with that of Birmingham City Council highlighting the clubs working links with them. We emphasised the letters COB to keep in touch with the people that know the club by this name” Sarah Moss – Offence Sports Marketing