The London Lions Basketball Club has announced a partnership with residential developer, Mount Anvil, to encourage use, active play, and community engagement on housing estates in the capital.

The two organisations will join forces to create, design, and construct a series of basketball courts on estate regeneration schemes.

The first project is part of the renewal of Barnsbury Estate, with the court being co-designed by children from the estate alongside local graffiti artist, Stazzy. 

This will mark the second court which the club has aided in renovating and gifting to the public after teaming up with artist, Alvaro Barrington, in partnership with Serpentine, CONSUL, Tower Hamlets Council, and Weavers Adventure Playground in Bethnal Green, to create a unique basketball court at the end of last year.

The new court at Barnsbury Estate comes alongside a landmark study from the Lions showing the importance of young people in the UK having a free space to play sport.

The study shows that people in the UK believe this is becoming an afterthought across the country as an overwhelming 73% agree that cities are forgetting about children, becoming congested and running out of space for kids to play.  

This represents a missed opportunity to better the outcomes for children across the nation, as the study found 46% of the population said having a free space to take part in sports or do physical activity is their most-important mental health aid.

A further 16% admitted they would have engaged in anti-social behaviour or crime if they did not have these outlets while growing up.

The partnership intends to further demonstrate both Mount Anvil’s and the Lions’ responsiveness to the needs of the communities they represent by creating places that are valuable for health, wellbeing, and social impact.

Jason Henley, senior vice president of basketball operations at the London Lions, said: “The partnership between Mount Anvil and the Lions is giving Barnsbury Estate residents and the surrounding community a chance to play basketball in a safe, inspiring, and welcoming space.

“This development will see a full-size outdoor court that can be accessed by all, addressing a key barrier to basketball participation within London and national issues of inactivity within our communities.

“As an organisation we are committed to growing basketball across London and working with Mount Anvil and the Barnsbury residents has already raised awareness of the London Lions to communities in North London.”