Toby with members and volunteers at the Chesterfield Flight Basketball Club
Toby with members and volunteers at the Chesterfield Flight Basketball Club

A fast growing and successful local Basketball club has enlisted the help of the local MP following a charging increase that led them to fear for their future.

The Chesterfield Flight Basketball Club, which trains children from across Chesterfield and plays in the national basketball league, is facing uncertainty due to an increase in charges to hire the sports hall at Outwood Academy Newbold. Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins, joined members for a training session to find out about the Club and the important role it plays in the community.

Toby said, “Basketball is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and Chesterfield Flight is doing a fantastic job of bringing people into the sport. The children I met with are socialising, staying active and developing skills that will help them in every aspect of their lives. Andrea Mooney and the people running the club are putting their own time and money in to make it accessible for as many people as possible but the increase in charges for hiring the sports hall is potentially putting the club at risk. I have written to ‘School Lettings Solutions’ and Outwood Academy Newbold urging them to reconsider the increase in charges.”

School Lettings Solutions manage facilities hire for many schools and academies in Derbyshire. They have increased the charges from last year by 20% without any explanation as to why these additional costs are justified.

Andrea Mooney, Chesterfield Flight Basketball Club manager, said “”Grass root sport should be accessible and affordable for every family. Significant costing from facility hire filters down to clubs and their members. Clubs require facilities to provide opportunities for children. If these were made more affordable, it would mean reasonable costs for training and as a result there would be an increase in children participating in sport as it becomes more accessible for the wider community.”

Chesterfield Flight Basketball Club was formed in early 2016 and is a development focused club that places its members before all else. They offer a range of coaching sessions for U12, U14 and U16s and play in Central Venue League, National Basketball League, and National Club Competitions.

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