Newham All Stars Sports Academy have topped off a great season with a top award

Newham All Stars Sports Academy (NASSA) has capped a remarkable season in which they won 14 National titles by being officially recognised for their community development programme.

News that NASSA had achieved the England Basketball 5-Star Accreditation Clubmark award, in recognition of their progressive community development programme, followed the success of their under-13 team winning the National Championships.

The achievements have been applauded locally as Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales paid a special visit to NASSA to celebrate their on and off court achievements.

While there he also presented gold medals to the under-13 National Champions basketball team, the Most Valuable Player award to England under-14 player Sam Kato and the 5-Star Accreditation Certificate.

The Mayor said: “The eyes of the world will shortly be upon Newham, so it is great to see young sports people here excelling.

“The Games are all about inspiring people and Newham All Star Sports Academy, with its successful community programme, is grabbing the opportunity with both hands.”

The 5-Star Accreditation has only been achieved by five other clubs in the UK and recognises the commitment and hard work of staff and volunteers in delivering the required criteria to achieve.

NASSA has worked with hundreds of young people and has developed a unique, highly successful community programme that is delivered in over 61 schools in the London Borough of Newham.

It works in partnership with LBN, Sports Development team, Cumberland School, Rokeby school and other partners to deliver a grass roots programme with over 2,000 young people per week attending extra-curricular basketball sessions.

Director Natasha Hart said: “This is a fantastic achievement for the club and is an award that we have been focused on achieving for a period of time. I am extremely proud”.