BIG Storage, the Chester and Warrington-based self-storage operator, is to fund three scholarships in a new foundation degree in basketball coaching which has been established in conjunction with the University of Chester.
Students will be given an exceptional opportunity to develop their coaching skills alongside professional coaches and players, and will also help out with delivering basketball to more than 120 schools across Cheshire.
The degree course will get under way at the start of the new academic year in autumn 2008 with up to 25 places available and will be delivered at the Warrington campus.
Work-based learning will form a key part of the foundation degree and will be facilitated by BiG Storage Cheshire Jets as an part of their community projects and wider business activity.
The scholarships are funded by BiG Storage, sponsor of the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets, who are extending an invitation to the youth of the area, interested in a future in basketball, to apply for the degree course.
Both girls and boys are welcome to try their hand at securing a scholarship position embracing a sport which was traditionally male orientated, but one which is now becoming more popular for girls.
Andrew Donaldson, partner of BiG Storage, who came up with the idea late last year, said: “We are opening up an exclusive opportunity to the youth of our community to consider a career in a sport that promotes family values and healthy living.
“Basketball is a sport that is starting to take a real hold in this country and in order to encourage its organic growth, initiatives such as the foundation degree course and offering scholarship opportunities can only contribute positively towards producing the calibre of players, coaches and community liaison officers that we need.
“We even hope that we might see one of the students on the professionals bench next season where they will be given the opportunity to play alongside the BiG Storage Cheshire Jets, as well as playing in the BUSA league for the University team.”
