Aldermore Community Impact video - Rockets SEND Programme – For people with additional needs

Thanks to funding from Aldermore, Rockets have been able to make significant strides in supporting families through our SEND basketball programme. The grant has allowed us to reduce fees for parents with multiple siblings enrolled in the programme, removing a key financial barrier and ensuring more children can participate. This has created opportunities for families who may have previously been unable to afford the cost of specialist sports provision, enabling their children to benefit from structured physical activity, skill development, and inclusive social experiences. In addition, Aldermore’s support has played a crucial role in sustaining our Junior SEND programme, which was at risk of closure due to financial difficulties. The funding has provided the stability we needed to continue offering this vital service, and as a result, we now have 24 young people training each week. With the extra resources, we’ve been able to introduce additional coaching support, enhancing the quality of sessions and ensuring each participant receives the attention they need. This has had a transformative impact on the confidence, physical health, and social development of our young athletes. Female Basketball Programme Support from Aldermore has been instrumental in the growth of our girls' basketball programme. With their funding, we have successfully launched a new Girls Development Programme that offers weekly basketball sessions for girls aged 10 to 18. This initiative has provided a much-needed platform for young female players to develop their skills in a supportive and inclusive environment, helping to boost their confidence, fitness, and teamwork. The programme has already seen strong attendance, with 52 girls from a variety of backgrounds engaging in regular training, forming friendships, and feeling part of a community. In addition to the development sessions, the funding has enabled us to launch our own Female Coaching Programme. This new initiative aims to empower more women to take up leadership roles in sport by providing them with training, mentoring, and hands-on coaching experience. By creating clear pathways into coaching, we are not only addressing the gender imbalance in sports leadership but also providing strong female role models for the next generation of players. Aldermore’s support has helped us lay the foundation for long-term impact, inspiring more girls to stay involved in basketball and showing them that they can be leaders both on and off the court. Rockets Mini Basketball Hubs in the Community Aldermore’s support has played a vital role in the growth and sustainability of our grassroots basketball programmes, particularly at the youngest age levels. With their funding, we have been able to significantly expand our Under-6s programme, which now engages 60 young players in weekly training sessions. This early introduction to sport is building strong foundations for physical development, confidence, and teamwork in a fun, inclusive environment. The support has also enabled us to strengthen a key community hub in South Reading, where we now have over 106 children under the age of 12 participating in weekly basketball activities. This hub has become a central space for families, promoting health, social connection, and positive engagement through sport. Crucially, Aldermore’s funding has allowed us to remove financial barriers for many local families. We have been able to provide full or partial bursaries to 40 families, ensuring that no child misses out due to cost. This commitment to accessibility has made our programmes more inclusive and reflective of the community we serve. Thanks to Aldermore, we are not only growing participation but also delivering real impact—helping young people stay active, build friendships, and enjoy the lifelong benefits of sport.