Adam Bailey

British Wheelchair Basketball has today launched a new fund of £10,000 to support clubs in their preparations for the Mobilisation Stage of BWB’s Return to Play roadmap.

With Round 1 of the Mobilisation Fund opening today (10 August), BWB affiliated clubs for the 2020/21 season can now apply for a £100 grant to assist with their club’s return to play.

The Mobilisation Stage, effective from 1 September 2020, will allow BWB sanctioned activity to be resumed outdoors in small groups, but clubs will be required to follow the guidance published by BWB earlier this month (the guidance can be viewed here).

This new grant will provide financial support for clubs towards the cost of cleaning equipment, signage, first aid, face masks/coverings, and additional equipment to ensure club sessions comply with BWB’s guidance and are COVID secure.

Round 1 of funding has opened today (10 August) and will close on Monday 24 August at 4pm (BST) with successful applicants notified after this date. Applications will then be re-opened for Round 2 of the funding which will begin on Tuesday 25 August and close on Monday 14 September at 4pm (BST).

Announcing the Mobilisation Fund, British Wheelchair Basketball CEO Lisa Pearce said:

“We know how tough these past few months have been for wheelchair basketball clubs in the UK and, like so many sports clubs and organisations sector-wide, the financial implications have been incredibly challenging, so we are really pleased to be able to launch this fund to help support our clubs in their preparations for a return to wheelchair basketball activity.

“Despite the challenging times, our clubs have done a fantastic job of continuing to serve the wheelchair basketball community; ensuring their members – many of whom have been impacted disproportionately during the COVID-19 pandemic – have continued to be able to be part of this much-loved community, even when we haven’t been able to be together on court.

“Through the Mobilisation Fund, as well as the wealth of benefits offered in the BWB Membership package, we would like to once again reassert our commitment to supporting our clubs as we continue to work together towards a Return to Play.”

To apply for the £100 grant, clubs need to complete the application form which can be found here: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/mobilisation-fund/

Any questions about the Mobilisation Fund should be directed to the BWB membership team on membership@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk or call the office on 01509 279900.

Today marks the unveiling of wheelchair basketball’s Return to Play. Undoubtedly it has been a long four months whilst we have been without our sport, but we are proud that our community spirit has shone brightly throughout these difficult times.

As we make public our plans for a gradual staged return to wheelchair basketball, it is important to firstly remember that we are an inclusive team sport, with the emphasis on inclusion and we want the ability for our whole community to return if they are ready to do so. It is for this reason that our guidance outlines more specific measures than those detailed by respective Governments (England and Home Countries) to enable our inclusive approach which sits at the very heart of our sport.

When we enter the MOBILISATION STAGE of our Return to Play on 1^st September 2020, our guidance (which can be viewed here) will enable our clubs and participants to put in place the detailed preparations and processes required to facilitate their return.

The key messages throughout the MOBILISATION STAGE uphold the government guidance and focus on mitigating risk regarding spread of infection.

We have an incredibly supportive and connected community who we know will want to return to wheelchair basketball as one, which can only be done by working together when our participants feel happy to come back and our clubs are ready to facilitate their return.  Our volunteer network is incredible, and they consistently go above and beyond to support the delivery of our sport. Once again, their work will be critical to the return of wheelchair basketball and we extend our sincerest thanks to them for their generosity, time and commitment.

The move through the staged Return to Play (Matrix) will be dependent upon two factors; firstly that the government advice of England and the Home Countries support the transition to the next phase together, and secondly that British Wheelchair Basketball as the Sport NGB feels confident that our participants and clubs are ready to do so, and are meeting the guidance outlined within the current stage of return.

Mobilisation Stage Guidance Document: We have issued a comprehensive Guidance document written for our clubs and participants. This is a recommended guidance document intended as a starting-point for the clubs and provided by BWB to assist them with their appropriate response to COVID-19.It is important that everyone reads and understands the full document – if anything is unclear or prompts a question please contact our membership team at membership@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk

Staged Return Matrix: We have highlighted some elements of the staged return guidance within a Matrix (which can be viewed here), so that participants and clubs can understand the requirements of each stage of Return to Play. Each stage should be informed by the corresponding Guidance Document, which will be released by British Wheelchair Basketball in due course and will provide more detailed guidance on each stage. This is a recommended staged return document intended as a starting-point for the clubs and provided by BWB to assist them with their appropriate response to COVID-19

Please remember that British Wheelchair Basketball and our staff team are here to support all of our members, volunteers and clubs in their Return to Play. Should you need help please email our membership team on membership@britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk or call the office on 01509 279900.

When a teammate faces adversity and challenge it is felt by the whole squad, not just by their on-court counterparts but also by their wider support network. Over the last six months we have watched with heartbreak as our athletes have repeatedly endured delays and miscommunication regarding the IWBF’s eligibility review process.

Following the January announcement that an Eligibility Review was to take place British Wheelchair Basketball has been unwavering in our commitment and drive that wheelchair basketball must continue to be part of the Paralympic movement. We have publicly expressed our support to facilitate the eligibility review process due to our fundamental belief that wheelchair basketball is one of the most iconic Paralympic sports.

As ever, we remain totally dedicated to serving our athletes to the best of our team’s ability. Now more than ever the resilience and strength of our staff support team is relied upon to guide the GB athletes through what continues to be a tremendously complex and trying review process for all involved.

Each athletes’ situation is different, and as the National Governing Body of the sport, we have made a commitment not to discuss individual circumstances.

This silence, however, is not indifference and our position remains that:

• Athlete welfare is paramount – our dedicated specialist support teams are continuously available for our GB athletes as and when they need them.

• Lessons need to be learnt – athlete wellbeing must be first and foremost considered as this process reaches its conclusion. Good communication, timely processes and a focus on the athlete welfare must be embedded by all involved – there can be no excuses and no failures any longer in this respect from those responsible for the process. 

• IPC Athlete Classification Code – The code is due for consultation next year and British Wheelchair Basketball will welcome this review. We commit to working with the international wheelchair basketball community, IWBF and the IPC when this consultation begins. For the time being, we remain respectful of the Code that was approved by the IPC’s 200+ member organisations in 2015.

• An International Community – As well as the global public unity of elite wheelchair basketball players in light of the eligibility review, the National Federations have joined together to provide a stronger voice to influence change and safeguard the Paralympic future of the sport.

• Inclusivity is at the heart of the UK sport – wheelchair basketball within the UK is fully inclusive and we have already taken action to ensure that this continues to be upheld. On Wednesday (29.07.20) we confirmed that we would be maintaining current eligibility and classification systems that are in operation in the UK (for domestic BWB competition).

We close this statement with an impassioned plea that the IPC revisit the opportunity to consider a transitional arrangement for those players who have been (and may be) negatively impacted by the eligibility review; many of whom will have supported their teams through Paralympic qualification and dedicated years of hard work to compete at Tokyo.

In light of the 2020 Paralympic postponement, BWB with support of other national federations is committed to working with IWBF to propose a comprehensive, considered and appropriate transitional arrangement for review by the IPC for athlete inclusion in the Tokyo games. 

This week the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) released its third set of outcomes as part of phase 1 of its eligibility reassessment review. The review is a requirement for the sport to align to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athlete Classification Code.

As the National Governing Body for wheelchair basketball in the UK, British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB) is committed to working with both IWBF and IPC to facilitate the timely completion of the eligibility review process. We remain steadfast in our stance that wheelchair basketball is a vital team sport within the Paralympic roster, and we are dedicated to securing the sports future within the Paralympic movement in Tokyo.

Above all, however, our focus is to support those players impacted by the eligibility review as it progresses through each of the phases until completion. The January announcement of the review, so close to a Paralympic Games, has understandably caused significant distress to all athletes involved, each of whom have remained committed to representing their nation at the Tokyo Paralympics.  It is essential lessons are learnt on how this process has been administered and the impact this has had on athlete welfare. Our focus and support is with each of these athletes as the process reaches its conclusion over the next twelve months.

Today, BWB has confirmed a review of its classification policy; the review denotes that the BWB domestic eligibility alignment will maintain the current eligibility and classification systems that are in operation in the UK (for domestic BWB competition).

In due course BWB will issue guidance regarding the distinctions between international and domestic classification eligibility pathways. The publication of this information will follow the completion the IWBF international eligibility review.

BWB’s Eligibility and Classification Policy can be viewed here: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/mdocs-posts/eligibility-and-classification-policy/

BWB has confirmed today the review of its classification policy, the review denotes that the BWB domestic eligibility alignment will maintain the current eligibility and classification systems that are in operation in the UK (for domestic BWB competition).

In due course BWB will issue guidance regarding the distinctions between international and domestic classification eligibility pathways. The publication of this information will follow the completion the IWBF international eligibility review.

BWB’s Eligibility and Classification Policy can be viewed here: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/mdocs-posts/eligibility-and-classification-policy/

In extremely exciting news for the sport, Wheelchair Basketball has become the first fully inclusive team sport to be introduced to the BUCS Sport programme, BUCS have announced today.

Joining over 50 sports, today’s announcement sees British Wheelchair Basketball continue to drive ground-breaking changes for disability sport.

Providing opportunities for participants to play with their peers regardless of their disability, ability or gender, the mixed league seeks to widen access to sport within the sector.

Building on the well-established University programme, including British Wheelchair Basketball’s annual University Championships, the sport’s introduction to the BUCS programme will now allow the number of institutions and participants to significantly increase at an extremely exciting time for the sport.

The BUCS addition helps BWB work further towards its vision, values and mission, set-out in its 2019-2024 strategy, with Universities an important element of its long-term aims, including aspirations to develop the structure to provide high level competition for both participation and pathway athletes.

The sport’s introduction follows a successful member-wide consultation and implementation process on the sport’s proposal, which has been developed to support existing wheelchair basketball programmes, whilst encouraging new university clubs and teams to access the sport.

Thrilled with the news, Jo Richards, British Wheelchair Basketball’s Participation Director, said:

“We’re so proud to be announcing our formal inclusion into the BUCS competition programme. It’s a huge step not only for wheelchair basketball, but also underpins some of the great work the sector is doing to widen access to Higher Education.

“As a truly inclusive team sport, we feel we can really bring something different to the BUCS portfolio with our ‘Reverse Inclusion’ approach, which allows all ages, genders, abilities and disabilities to compete on a level playing field.

“Our partner institutions and student athletes have worked extremely hard to raise awareness and embed wheelchair basketball into their sport programmes and it’s great to see their efforts rewarded with formal inclusion into the programme.

“It’s an exciting time for Wheelchair Basketball and we have some great opportunities on the horizon for Universities and community clubs to build their relationships and we can’t wait to see how the programme develops.”

Driven to help students have the best sport experience at university, BUCS Director of Delivery, Jenny Morris is excited by the new sports:

“At this time, it is important for us to continue to support students with staying active with a view to getting back to playing sport. These new sports are valuable in creating more opportunities for students to get involved, moving and engaged with university sport when we return to play.”

British Wheelchair Basketball would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported the sport’s proposal and introduction to the BUCS Sport programme.

Further details on team entries will be announced soon.

Visit https://www.bucs.org.uk/ for more information on BUCS.

British Wheelchair Basketball continually reviews its policies and notices to ensure that we are implementing strong governance across the sport.

We have recently updated our Privacy Notice, completing is a full notice review, so all aspects of the privacy notice have been considered and updated. 

Areas of change include:

• Personal Data – Updates regarding the type of personal data we might collect, and data specific to your membership and role with British Wheelchair Basketball.
• Special Category Data – This section covers processing of ‘special category’ data including, but not limited to, medical information, public interest or for research purposes.
• Recipients of Personal Data – Updated to include third party sharing and website inclusion of sanctions.

Please note that this is not the full list of all the changes and a copy of the updated Privacy Notice can be viewed here.

The notice will come into immediate effect and is available via both our online system and the BWB website: https://britishwheelchairbasketball.co.uk/mdocs-posts/data-privacy-notice/

It was double delight for Sheffield Hallam University’s Wheelchair Basketball Club last month with the club picking up two awards at the University’s annual Team Hallam Sports Ball.

Sheffield Hallam Wheelchair Basketball Club won the ‘Team of the Year’ award during the virtual awards ceremony, while club member and World U25 and European U24 medallist Lucy Robinson was named the University’s ‘Sportswoman of the Year’.

The double success rounds-off a successful year for both the club and Lucy with Sheffield Hallam clinching their third consecutive BWB University Championships title in March, beating Brunel University by two points in a thrilling final.

For Lucy, the last 12 months have seen the 21-year-old excel both on and off the court; having taken part in her first senior overseas training camp earlier this year before recently graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a First Class degree in Primary Education.

The award is the latest recognition for Lucy, who began playing wheelchair basketball at Leicester Cobras at age 13.

“It means a lot to have been recognised and thought of when there are hundreds of female athletes from so many sports at the University who have had great successes this year,” Lucy said. “Sheffield Hallam is highly recognised for its sports and to finish my final year as Sportswoman of the Year and be part of the Team of the Year is a great honour and such a proud feeling.”

Lucy’s successes include helping Sheffield Hallam make history, becoming the first University to win three consecutive gold medals at the BWB University Championships.

With over 40 clubs fielding teams across Sheffield Hallam University, Club Chair and captain Gabriella Gordo reflects on the Team of the Year award with pride:

“After three years building the team and having such great success it’s such a great honour to be recognised for all our work by winning Team of the Year,” Gabriella said. “We’ve worked extremely hard to achieve everything we have, and we know that we’re lucky to be recognised by our university when so many aren’t, but should be.

“We’ve managed to build a team where we’re all genuinely friends and have such a great time when playing and competing together. This has all been years in the making and I’m just glad we were able to get a team together to achieve what we have.”

Success on and off the court

After becoming one of the first athletes to join the BWB Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (now known as DiSE) in 2015, Lucy has developed through the BWB pathway; claiming U24 European gold in 2018 and U25 World bronze in 2019.

“The sport has shaped me to be who I am,” Lucy said. “I feel a lot more confident in my life generally because of wheelchair basketball. It’s such a welcoming and friendly community, and there are so many amazing people involved in the sport, it’s really inspiring to hear their experiences. It’s just a great sport to be a part of.”

With the Tokyo Paralympic Games postponed until 2021 and Lucy beginning her Masters this Autumn, the 21-year-old is looking forward to seeing what the next 12 months have in store on and off the court.

“I think for me, when Tokyo was meant to be this year, I was enjoying learning and being part of the journey,” Lucy added. “I took every opportunity I could, worked as hard as I could, whilst planning lessons, teaching and completing assignments.

“I wanted to prioritise basketball but I knew my education had to come first, so for the Games to now be postponed to next year I have a lot more time and motivation to focus my energy onto being the best athlete and teammate I can be to be as prepared as I can for selections next year.

“I’m also continuing my studies, starting a Masters at the University of Sheffield so I’m excited to see what the next year brings on and off the court!”