Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen visits Teesside Lions community session

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen visiting a Teesside Lions community session at Durham University. (Credit Teesside Lions Facebook).

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen recently attended a training Teesside Lions community session, featuring young players learning the fundamentals of the game.

On his take away from the visit Ben Houchen said: "It took me straight back to that feeling of training with Middlesbrough Rugby Club - that sense of dedication, commitment and of being part of a team. Certainly one big takeaway was the breadth of provision now available locally. These opportunities were not always as accessible in basketball, and that is a positive reflection of how far the region has come."

Houchen noted how he has also visited Tees Valley Mohawks and he is always interested to see how grassroots sporting is developing in the region. Houchen says that he would be open to attending the Cleveland Steelers who were founded just last year.

Surprisingly, Houchen revealed that the Tees Valley Combined authority does not directly invest in grassroots basketball. Although he added that the authority helps local organisations position themselves for national funding opportunities. Also, "broader investments" such as funding into the building of school basketball courts and leisure centre courts can provide places for teams to rent.

Houchen noted that grassroots sport can be difficult to invest in financially as "funding is often provided with specific conditions". Therefore, if funding is stipulated as needing to go towards local parks for example, it cannot be redirected elsewhere. However, he added he is "looking for additional funding opportunities". Houchen also noted that while TVCA does have a level of devolved funding, although it is largely more limited than the stipulated investment.

On the rising costs of hiring basketball facilities for training, Ben Houchen said "I recognise the pressures that rising energy prices and the wider cost of living are placing on both community facilities and the households that rely on them. There are currently no specific subsidy or community use interventions in place at Combined Authority level, although this position will be kept under review should future funding opportunities arise.  Addressing the underlying cost pressures, particularly energy, will be critical to ensuring that community facilities and organisations can continue to operate sustainably and remain accessible within local neighbourhoods."

Houchen believes strongly that grassroots basketball reduces anti-social behaviour, he said: "From personal experience playing at Middlesbrough Rugby Club, the club shaped me from a young age and strengthened my connection to the region. Grassroots basketball, like all grassroots sports, can play a great role in bringing people together. Much has been written on the impact that helping people to feel part of their community can reduce anti-social behaviour." 

The Mayor also congratulated the Tees Valley Mohawks Pinks on their recent Durham County Cup win. He stated that women's sport is an "important priority" and is supported by national governing bodies, as well as local organisation Tees Valley Sport.