Grenfell Memorial Basketball Tournament 2026
London, Greater London, United Kingdom
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Aim
The Grenfell Memorial Basketball Tournament commemorates the tragic event that devastated the North Kensington community on 14 June 2017.
Who are we?
London Knights is a Basketball England registered basketball club, established in 1997, with a fully developed junior basketball programme for players aged 4 to 19 years old.
We are an inclusive, non-selective community basketball club committed to providing opportunities for every child, regardless of age, background, or previous basketball experience. Whether a complete beginner aged 4 or a teenager discovering basketball later in life, every young person is welcome to learn and develop with us.
London Knights Basketball Club is based at Kensington Leisure Centre and delivers sessions across multiple venues, including:
• Kensington Leisure Centre
• Kensington Aldridge Academy
• Westminster Academy
• Little Venice Sports Centre
• King Solomon Academy
• Church Street Sports Centre
• Jubilee Leisure Centre
• Moberly Sports Centre
• St Charles College
• UCS Active
Grassroots Basketball
Supported by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Sports Department, our grassroots programme recognises the importance of engaging underrepresented groups through sport. We proudly deliver basketball sessions for U6, U8, and U10 players.
EHCP Basketball
In partnership with RBKC Sports Development, the Club delivers tailored weekly basketball sessions for children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP). These sessions take place every Monday from 5:00pm–6:00pm at Kensington Leisure Centre and support children with a wide range of additional needs and disabilities beyond wheelchair basketball provision.
Boys’ Competitive Basketball
Our boys’ programme includes U10 Mixed, U12 Mixed, competing within the Central Venue League (CBL). Also U12 Mixed, U14 Boys, U16 Boys and U18 Man competing in the National Basketball League. As participation continues to grow, the Club’s priority is to secure additional training opportunities for our competitive teams.
Girls’ Competitive Basketball
Since the 2021/22 season, the development of girls’ basketball has become a major Club priority. We are proud to have U12 girls’ development team competing in local London League and U14G, U16G and U18W competing in the National Basketball League. Every girl joining the programme is highly valued and supported within a positive and ambitious development pathway.
Senior (50+) Basketball
In partnership with RBKC, the Club also delivers basketball sessions for senior residents through weekly scrimmage basketball every Wednesday from 8:00pm–10:00pm at Kensington Leisure Centre.
Basketball Camps
London Knights organises half-term, holiday, and summer basketball camps designed to provide young people with additional coaching, physical activity, and structured engagement throughout school breaks.
Afterschool Clubs
The Club delivers basketball provision and afterschool programmes across several local schools, including:
• UCS Hampstead
• Halcyon International
• Southbank International School
Through basketball, London Knights continues to create opportunities for young people and families across London, promoting inclusion, health, education, safeguarding, and community development through sport.
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Why are we crowdfunding?
London Knights organises the Grenfell Memorial Basketball Tournament to commemorate the tragic event that devastated the North Kensington community. As a local club based at Kensington Leisure Centre and closely connected to Kensington Aldridge Academy, many of our members and families were directly affected by the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
To honour the memory of the 72 lives lost in the fire, the Tournament will feature 72 young players in the morning session and a further 72 players in the afternoon session.
Through basketball, remembrance, and community unity, we aim to ensure that the victims are never forgotten and that such a tragedy must never happen again.
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How we’ll spend the money raised
London Knights, with the valued support of our partners — GLL, RBKC and the NBA London office — will help cover a number of tournament expenses for the Grenfell Memorial Junior Basketball Tournament, including event sports hall hire fees and awards.
We are also extremely grateful for the continued support of GLL and RBKC Council in securing the tournament venues. Through this collective effort, we believe we can offer a community deeply affected by the North Kensington tragedy a positive celebration of youth, unity, and resilience through sport.
This year, the Club also plans to produce an additional 144 com
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Community impact
London Knights has extensive experience in organising basketball tournaments, league games, and international sporting events, including an international tournament involving eight clubs, National League fixtures, local league competitions, and international friendly games. We are confident that the organisation and delivery of the tournament will meet all required safety, safeguarding, and operational standards.
London Knights Basketball Club first organised the Grenfell Junior Basketball Tournament in 2019 with the aim of commemorating the Grenfell tragedy while positively engaging young people through sport. The inaugural event welcomed approximately 100 participants and received strong support from the local community. Our vision is to establish the tournament as a lasting annual tradition that continues to grow in participation and community impact each year.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament could not take place during the following two years. We are therefore especially pleased to bring the event back and once again engage as many local young people and families as possible.
The tournament brings together children from local basketball clubs, alongside their parents, relatives, neighbours, and residents living in the immediate vicinity of Grenfell Tower. The event holds particular significance for many of our junior members whose lives were directly affected by the tragedy due to their close connection to Kensington Leisure Centre and the North Kensington community.
A large number of participating children attend local primary schools, including Thomas Jones, Oxford Gardens, Bevington Primary, Colville Primary, Fox Primary, St Mary’s Abbots, and St Barnabas School, as well as secondary schools such as St Charles Catholic Sixth Form College, Kensington Aldridge Academy, Holland Park School, Chelsea Academy, and Thomas More Language College.
The same strong local connection applies to fellow community basketball clubs Westside and Huskies, both of which also deliver weekly basketball sessions at Kensington Leisure Centre.
We are confident that the tournament will continue to be warmly welcomed by the local community and will once again provide a positive celebration of youth, unity, resilience, and community spirit through basketball.
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How you can play your part
Grenfell Junior Basketball Tournament is promoted through Grenfell Basketball Tournament page on our web-site, wide social media, local shops notice boards or advertisement screens, local organisations posts such as: Latymer Community Church, Curve, Grenfell United etc. We liaison with The parks Team to post Tournament posters at the Park information boards throughout the Borough.
Fundraise for us. We display all benefactors of the Tournament logos, alongside London Knights BC, RBKC and GLL.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 17th June 2026 at 6:29pm