Leaving home is hard, but leaving home when forced is devastating. Problems for refugees and asylum-seekers don’t disappear when they find a new home, instead they now have to try and rebuild their lives.

Refugees arriving in England may not yet speak English, but there is another language they can communicate through. The language of sport is universal and basketball is the second most widely played sport on the planet. Having something familiar and communal can help people thrive in their new surroundings.

Hurdles2Hoops provides that familiar safe space for refugees and asylum-seekers, offering free physical activity and education sessions in London boroughs. The non-profit looks to help attendees by both alleviating mental stresses and improving physical wellbeing.

INTEGRATE

“It’s quite hard for someone who comes from a different country to integrate,” said managing director Charlotte Thomas-Rowe. “There is a huge mental health crisis within the asylum seeker population… physical activity is known to help with mental health.”

Hurdles2Hoops offers community-based activities to help those at risk. This can prevent ‘othering’ of these communities and help them establish full and meaningful lives in the UK. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to helping people integrate into life in London, which is why Hurdles2Hoops has expanded its reach outside of just sport.

“Each project is run by a different instructor, and they try and maximise [their impact] with whatever they are going to do,” said Charlotte. “We help [people] express how they feel and work through different themes to help with this.”

Integration is more than just getting kids to shoot fadeaways in a gym; it’s also about learning to navigate a new environment. Sessions are designed to introduce principles to younger participants that ensure they are well prepared to face the wider world.

“I feel you have to respect your peers around you because there are so many different cultures and so many different values within those cultures, that some things that are disrespectful in one could be respectful in another,” Charlotte adds. “[We help people] understand the culture within the country they are in now. To gauge what is okay and what isn’t.

“Being around people who are in similar situations as yourself, but also being around people who have never been in your situation, where you can educate them and they can educate others.”

BENEFITS

Confidence is a key part of growing as a person. Charlotte says: “When it comes to our sports, I think it’s helped a lot of people come out of their shells.”

Helping people feel less isolated can also have major mental health benefits, leading to long-term success. Hurdles2Hoops’ sessions are open to children of all ages and abilities.

Damarni Velinor, a coach within neighbourhood sports club programme for basketball, is keen on children leaving with lessons they can use throughout their life.

“The lessons that translate are the hard work, the discipline, and being able to follow instructions in a way where it’s beneficial for yourself. It’s not always easy to put the effort in, but the results mean that the effort is always worth it.”

Damarni adds: “We would do a lot of drills based on understanding what your impact is on somebody else. So instead of getting frustrated, getting mad, we're trying to control their temperament. Teach them that it's better to have, you know, the next play mindset, which is essentially not crying over spilt milk.

“Things in life are going to happen outside of your control, you might apply for a job and not get it, you might try your best to achieve something in the real world and it doesn't go your way, but how do you respond to that?

“Being able to bounce back from that, understanding it's just lessons and learning, being able to get to the next level without dropping your head all the time, that's kind of how I feel like in society it’s going to help them grow.”

CHALLENGE

The mission is far from over. With more funding, Hurdles2Hoops could expand its social inclusion efforts across the country. But allowing more people access to sport requires tackling food poverty and grassroots costs.

“I’d like to become a charity. This will widen our network; not just being in London but also all over England because a challenge that we have is when people move outside of London, we are unable to help them any further.”

Starting a new life in a foreign country is a daunting journey, but with support, people can find their way back to a happy and fulfilling life.

Hurdles2Hoops’ basketball sessions are supported by The City of Westminster’s neighbourhood sports club programme, allowing residents 150 hours of free activity weekly through supporting funding. Other Hurdles2Hoops activities within this programme include women’s only boxing, resistant bands exercise, and kickboxing. Read more.

Visit Hurdles2Hoops' page on the ConnectSport directory.

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