From The Basketball Court to the Corporate World

The London Basketball Association (LBA) is one of the few charity organisations serving communities through not only sports, but also employability programs across the capital. 

The motto behind the LBA is “basketball is the game, social change is the mission” and this is exactly what is reflected in each of our programs and charitable endeavours. 

Spanning from youth groups to adult teams, casual scrimmages to official leagues, the LBA has shaped what it means to build a community around the game.

As part of its mission to empower disadvantaged individuals, the London Basketball Association is launching an innovative employment initiative called ‘From The Basketball Court to the Corporate World.’

Using our basketball activities as the hook, we will:

1. Provide 40 off-the-court Volunteering / Internship opportunities across all LBA departments, including Marketing, Operations and Finance.

2. Organise 4 career fairs with corporate and non-corporate partner organisations throughout the duration of the project. These organisations will provide talks on their professions, such as banking, construction, arts and heritage sectors, opening up a range of professions to meet the interests of our volunteers / Interns and young people. We will also deliver financial literacy workshops as part of the career fairs, helping young people understand the fundamentals of personal finance.

3. Help 5-8 young people gain access to corporate jobs within the Finance sector

For the vast majority of the young people we engage — who reside in deprived areas (i.e. Indices of Multiple Deprivation 1-3 areas) within London and come from families with histories of unemployment — this programme will be a unique opportunity for them to gain the necessary confidence, skills and credentials to not only obtain paid work in their chosen fields, but also enter the corporate world.

Black and Asian groups — who reflect the vast majority of LBA’s beneficiaries — make up just 10% and 7% of the financial sector workforce, respectively (Medium, 2024). At the executive level, these figures drop sharply, with only 1.5% of executives being Black and 2% being Asian.

Below is a case study which highlights the impact this employment project will have:

David, 21, from a deprived area in London, faced significant barriers due to his family’s history of unemployment. Attending our weekly basketball sessions, he was encouraged to participate in an internship with LBA to enhance his career prospects. Eager for the opportunity, David joined the programme with a goal to gain confidence and improve his professional skills.

Starting his 6-week internship in LBA’s finance department, David quickly impressed his line manager with his enthusiasm and willingness to learn. He engaged in tasks such as financial data analysis and project management, gaining hands-on experience with financial tools and software.

David’s role extended beyond the office to LBA’s events across London, where he captured and edited footage and conducted surveys and interviews. This diverse experience allowed him to apply his skills in various contexts and interact with a wide range of people.

David also benefited from one of the workshops that LBA delivered, specifically one relating to financial literacy where he learned about personal finance, investing, and credit.

By the end of his internship, David demonstrated significant growth. His confidence in professional settings had markedly improved, and his communication skills were refined. The practical experience he gained, combined with the skills developed during his time at LBA, has prepared him for future career opportunities in the finance sector. This internship not only enhanced David’s professional readiness but also provided him with a solid foundation for a successful career.