06/05/2026
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Yorkshire Region Community Club this year is Spen Valley Basketball Club, which has been described as βA treasure for the local community and people wanting to get involved with the sport.β Starting in 2010, the Club began with a team in the Leeds League and quickly established itself as one to watch. Over the years it has provided a multitude of opportunities for players in Spen Valley, an area which had little to offer in terms of the game before. The club soon attracted more senior players and expanded. Today it has 4 senior teams in different divisions in the Leeds league having raised the numbers of participants within the club over the last 12 months to 118 members. This has included creating a new team for players under the age of 20 who are from a deprived background and reducing their subs to allow them to access the sport like everyone else. If they are struggling with finances they allow them to volunteer on other game days so then they get to continue for free of charge. This also allows them to gain different skills to put on their CVs. They also have a game day on a different night to the rest of the other teams to allow a group or Mormons to play regular competitive basketball. They have U12's where players from 5 years old attend to teach them the basic skills of basketball in a fun way. A group of players who are 11/12 years are playing friendlies so they are ready to step up into the U14's NBL league They have an U14's team who are having the best season we have ever had as a club at that age. Our U16's are also on track to have their best season in the club too. Plans are in the making to set up a Masters team. Recently the club has used Movement Fund money to create a Girlsβ only session recognizing a gap in provision in that area. They have even branched out into football to allow a group of players who were left without a club to still access that sport also. They donβt just encourage players: they get their members involved in table officiating, refereeing and coaching. Those officials and coaches then go on to support both local and National League competitions. This season they have trained parents and players up on how to do the score table and how to use the PlayHQ online system as well as the paper version.At the heart of the club has always been the Dolan family, particularly Greg, who has worked tirelessly to build it, always shaping the club and its offer to keep up to date with changes in the sport. The club has created a welcoming and inclusive community which is able to help each other outside of basketball as well. Overall, an excellent example of a grassroots organisation.