Local children inspired at Super League Basketball finals
Children from schools in St. Thomas’s ward enjoyed a memorable day out at the Super League Basketball (SLB) Trophy Finals at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, thanks to free tickets allocated through StreetGames UK.
Cllr Adeela Qayyum and Cllr Shaukat Ali, both members of St. Thomas’s Community Association, joined young people from the area to attend both the Women’s and Men’s SLB Trophy Finals yesterday (February 1).
The event marked the first major fixture of the 2025–26 basketball season, with Caledonia Gladiators defending the Women’s Betty Codona Trophy against Sheffield Hatters, followed by the Men’s SLB Trophy Final between defending champions Newcastle Eagles and Championship winners London Lions.
Cllr Shaukat Ali said: “We want to thank StreetGames UK for allocating these tickets. We were delighted to join young people from our ward at such a fantastic event. Young people in areas like ours don’t often get opportunities like this or dream of visiting major sporting venues. Days like this can really inspire them and help unlock their potential.”
Cllr Adeela Qayyum added: “It was wonderful to see how excited the children were. As someone recently elected Vice Chair of Dudley’s first women-led cricket and sports club, I am committed to organising more local sporting activities and working with partners to make sure young people can access opportunities like this.”
Parents praised the experience, describing it as “a wonderful opportunity” and “a day we’ll remember for a long time.” One parent said their child was “over the moon” after watching the games, while another added that their son “loved it so much we stayed until the very end.”
The tickets were distributed to local schools through St. Thomas’s Community Association, a voluntary organisation set up since COVID, as part of the StreetGames Inspiration Campaign, which aims to change young people’s lives through sport by giving them access to major sporting events.
The SLB Trophy Finals featured a full day of basketball action and entertainment, including a Slam Dunk Contest, live music and fan zones, making it a truly unforgettable experience for the young people who attended.
