Community news
Royal Docks Charity: 100,000 young people engaged in 15-Year Partnership with Metropolitan Police
Royal Docks based charity Newham All Star Sports Academy (NASSA) is celebrating its 15-year partnership with the Metropolitan Police on their award-winning ‘Carry A Basketball Not A Blade’ (CABNAB) initiative.
A special NASSA vs the Met Police game tipped off at the University of East London’s SportsDock facility on Thursday, 25th January. This was the last in a series of events marking the 15-year collaboration between the two organisations, which has helped to educate over 100,000 young people, from across East London, on the dangers of knife crime, since CABNAB’s beginnings in 2008.
Through the shooting of hoops, applause and a minute’s silence, the game will also remember all those young people who have tragically died as a direct result of knife crime.
NASSA’s Anthony Okereafor, launched the Carry A Basketball Not A Blade (CABNAB) campaign following the tragic stabbing of two friends within weeks of each other. Integrated into NASSA's schools, community and club programmes, CABNAB reaches thousands of young people annually through basketball coaching and educational workshops, facilitated in partnership with the Metropolitan Police. The initiative aims to reduce knife crime through talks and workshops on knife crime, county lines activity and gang membership, and alerting young people between the ages of 10-18 on the implications of carrying a knife. It also promotes basketball as a positive activity, fostering confidence, teamwork and community cohesion.
NASSA is grateful to the Met Police for the support they have given us in our CABNAB campaign since we launched it in 2008.
NASSA Founder & Chief Executive, Natasha Hart MBE
Tackling violent crime and its complex causes is a top priority for the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. NASSA received funding from the Mayor’s Young Londoners Fund, set up to help young people fulfil their potential, particularly those at risk of getting caught up in crime. NASSA’s work was one of five projects showcased in a London-wide film, ‘Ignite Your Potential’, commissioned by the Young Londoners fund to highlight the impact of the funding and inspirational stories from across the capital.
Two of the Royal Docks’ anchor businesses, Tate & Lyle Sugars and ExCeL London have also supported NASSA for many years, providing funding for their school-based basketball and mentoring sessions. Tate & Lyle also provides free office space at their Thames Refinery building.
NASSA Founder & Chief Executive, Natasha Hart MBE said: “Knife crime is such a terrible scourge on our communities. It affects everyone, not just the victims, but their families and friends. It also affects the lives of the perpetrators, too.
“CABNAB has always been about educating young people, making them aware of the consequences, not just of using a knife, but of simply carrying one, too.
“Every member of the NASSA team who will play the Met Police in this special game has been directly affected by knife crime and felt its consequences.
“NASSA is grateful to the Met Police for the support they have given us in our CABNAB campaign since we launched it in 2008 and we thank Newham Borough Commander Simon Crick for bringing along a Met Police team to participate in this game.”
NASSA’s Anthony Okereafor, launched the Carry A Basketball Not A Blade (CABNAB) campaign following the tragic stabbing of two friends within weeks of each other.
Since NASSA’s early beginnings in 2006, the charity has become one of the most successful and socially conscious basketball clubs in the country. It boasts a long and impressive list of accolades, demonstrating their impact both on and off the court.
It was the first basketball club in London to be awarded 5-star Club Mark status by Basketball England, while NASSA teams have won 16 National League titles since 2007. They were recently named winner for Civic & Community Engagement at Newham’s 2023 Business Awards in recognition of their notable contribution to supporting pathways into employment. In 2023 alone, local young people gained 343 qualifications through NASSA in basketball coaching and officiating, as well as in First Aid.
NASSA was the first community organisation in Newham to be presented with a Metropolitan Police Award for services to the community. It achieved the ultimate accolade of being named the UK Charity of the Year at The Charity Awards 2014 and in 2015, Natasha Hart was awarded an MBE for Services to Sport in East London.
Visit NASSA’s website for more information.
NASSA’s Hoop-La corporate team-building workshops help fund the charity’s work with young people.
