Local charity, 5 On It Foundation welcomed special guest Matthew Barber, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, to their anti-gang basketball event in MK this month.
This month there have been 3 violent stabbings of three young men in Milton Keynes, leaving one victim hospitalised which is a stark reminder of the need for lifesaving knife and gang crime education for local children and young people.
Local charity, 5 On It Foundation, were thrilled to welcome special guest Matthew Barber, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, to their latest anti-gang basketball event this month. Matthew and TVP funded one of 5 On It’s Gang Today Gone tomorrow programmes last summer.
Over 50 young people, boys and girls aged 12-18 years, took part in the free basketball 3v3 tournament at the Outdoor Basketball Court in Eaglestone. This programme is part of the charity’s Gang Today Gone Tomorrow anti-gang initiative that uses sport to encourage safety at street level. Matthew met with professional basketball players and coaches Nigel Lloyd, Jordan Spencer, Ruchae Walton, Kai Williams and Olympian Peter Bakare from 5 On It and enjoyed watching the players in action and getting behind the positive message.
Nigel Lloyd is one of 5 On It Foundation’s founders and leads on their ‘Gang Today, Gone Tomorrow’ programme. The highly skilled professional basketball player who tried out with the Los Angeles Clippers and led Barbados to a pair of titles as the starting point guard said;
“Free sports and arts opportunities for young people in Milton Keynes are so important and can be lifesaving. Active children and young people are not only happier and healthier, but they also feel more resilient and have a closer connection to their communities. We saw this today! I’ve been so impressed with all the 50 ballers who joined us. There was a lot of talent in these young people and it was great to see everyone having a great time and working together.”
The charity were very grateful to Woughton Community Council Youth Centre who provided a fantastic complimentary table of barbecue food and pizzas.
Medals were awarded at the end to winners of the two age categories and every participant received a free Gang Today Gone Tomorrow t-shirt.
This important anti gang project has continued to increase its profile in Milton Keynes and has attracted wide interest from local media including BBC Look East, Thames Valley Police and Youth Departments at Milton Keynes Council.
5 On It Foundation, thanks to funding from the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, will now be delivering engaging County Lines Assemblies to secondary schools in Milton Keynes which will be headed up by gang expert Leo Powell. He will speak about the horrors of gang culture, how to avoid the tricks gang leaders use to attract teenagers and how to follow a positive pathway.
5 On It Foundation are now appealing for help from businesses in Milton Keynes to help them fund free activities which will be promoted at the assemblies - basketball coaching, social media workshops, dance workshops on outdoor basketball courts and halls throughout the summer. Any companies who would like to join them in their drive to keep our community safer should email Lolly and Debbie on admin@5onit.co.uk
To find out more about how to get involved and their CSR Packages please click here.
