A project run by England Netball aimed at involving Tower Hamlets women in the sport was today announced as one of ten sports-based initiatives across the UK to receive funding to tackle extremism from the Home Office’s Building a Stronger Britain Together (BSBT) programme.
England Netball has been awarded the funding to work with groups who are under-represented in sport with the aim of inspiring even more to take part. The work will bring together different parts of the community, as well as training participants to become leaders and coaches in their own right.
The award is part of a wider announcement of £400,000 to ten sports-related projects across the country made by Baroness Williams, Home Office Minister for Countering Extremism, at an event held at St Andrew’s stadium in Birmingham today (Friday 22 June).
Announcing the funding, Baroness Williams, Minister for Countering Extremism, said:
“The work that England Netball is doing to bring people from a wide range of backgrounds together shows that sport has a uniquely powerful way to break down barriers and provide a common platform to unite us all.
“This is why Building a Stronger Britain Together is providing funding to organisations to strengthen our communities so that they can stand against those who seek to divide us with extremist views.”
Other groups receiving funding include football club foundations across the country.
Commenting on the announcement, Joanna Adams, Chief Executive Officer, England Netball, said:
“We are thrilled to be part of the BSBT network.
“We are passionate about empowering women through netball and this project allows us to grow activities in Tower Hamlets that will reach, inspire and bring together women in the community.”
They join a network of more than 160 organisations who have received support from BSBT since it was set up in 2015 as part of the government’s counter-extremism strategy.
It supports civil society and community organisations who work to create more resilient communities, stand up to extremism in all its forms and offer vulnerable individuals a positive alternative.
The BSBT network includes grassroots campaigns that bring together young people from segregated communities, build resilience to extremism and challenge extremist narratives.
