Social Impact & Innovation; Integrated Sports, Education (STEM) and Nutrition Programs in Aspirational Settings
Racket Sports
Increasing evidence that active children have higher school achievement. We believe Racket Sports are particularly well suited to these programmes. Each Child spends an hour in each session every week following a structured coaching program complemented by games to enhance the physical and mental health benefits
- Tennis and Squash Programs established
- Badminton and Table Tennis piloted and will be expanded
- Complementary, all weather, life sports for both genders. Visible role models
- Several Medical studies (in UK, US and Denmark) highlighted the significant health benefits eg Longevity, happiness and fitness
(STEM) Education
Core focus on Maths, but additional programmes on Life Skills, finance and other Key Stage topics. The one hour traditional maths teaching is structured to complement the core school key stage curriculum, but we are now looking to run additional Robotics and Coding classes along side these. We want to introduce, and enhance confidence in, modern technology and engineering based opportunities.
- STEM subjects important to long term success of communities
- Often perceived to be difficult and unattractive
- Significant investment in complementing the core “in school” teaching
- Present the concept of money and savings
Nutrition
Increasing evidence that nutritious foods improve classroom behaviour, and sporting achievement. Exercise is only part of the Obesity and Metabolic health solution. We believe that with an understanding and participation in rigorous physical exercise and a nutritionally balanced diet, from an early age, long lasting life and health benefits can be established. We seek to provide healthy food options, and use our programs to explain the benefits of a healthy diet.
- Facilitate healthy balanced diet, to improve concentration and appropriate energy for exercise
- Focus on explaining the life-long benefits
- Use role models to emphasis (eg Tennis and Squash pros affiliated with the club)
- Provide fruit and balance of the main food groups
Pre COVID Rackets Cubed Hosted in 6 Cities and at 11 Aspirational Settings
Multiple Settings
Rackets Cubed has been working with a variety of Aspirational setting and hosts to evaluate the potential for these programs. To date we have successfully run pilots at
- Universities, which are likely to be our main near term growth driver
- Private Sporting Clubs
- Sports Performance Centres
- Private Schools
London Host Partners
Reed's is an independent boarding and day school for boys aged 11-18 with girls in the Sixth Form. Its aim is to provide a high quality education during which the individual's strengths, potential and interests are identified and developed. The school was founded in 1813 with the stated aim of helping orphaned children, and has built on that vision over the last 200+ years.
Set in 100 acres of magnificent parkland, founded in 1901, the Roehampton Club continues to be an exclusive Members’ sports club, offering the finest range of sporting facilities in the London area including a beautifully presented 18 hole golf course, 30 tennis courts with 10 fabulous grass courts and 6 squash courts
Set in 100 acres of magnificent parkland, founded in 1901, the Roehampton Club continues to be an exclusive Members’ sports club, offering the finest range of sporting facilities in the London area including a beautifully presented 18 hole golf course, 30 tennis courts with 10 fabulous grass courts and 6 squash courts
Other Host Partners
In 2018 we wanted to evaluate how these programs could work outside of the London setting. We decided to work with Hosting partners in Yorkshire given the strong heritage for the Rackets Sports, and existing levels of community engagement in the region
We have observed that clubs in the region tend to be better connected to their local communities and are natural partners for us in developing these programs
We have observed that clubs in the region tend to be better connected to their local communities and are natural partners for us in developing these programs
Developed 3 Delivery Platforms In Response to COVID
Core Rackets Cubed
Established in 5 Cities with 11 Hosting Partners Manchester, London, Birmingham, Leeds & Hull
4 Clubs, 3 Universities, 1 School, 3 Centres
Strong pipeline of 50 sites, with many Universities Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis
Work with NGBs to evaluate pathways
Targeting 100 UK wide aspirational host sites by 2024, & 30+ by end of 2021
On Hold given current Govt restrictions
Strong pipeline of 50 sites, with many Universities Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis
Work with NGBs to evaluate pathways
Targeting 100 UK wide aspirational host sites by 2024, & 30+ by end of 2021
On Hold given current Govt restrictions
COVID Recovery
In school sports delivery with adapted protocols
Pilot tested in summer term
Now running in 8 schools in London , Leeds, and Hull
Where appropriate it is run in conjunction with the Community Box Program
Transition to Core Rackets Cubed Program when possible & in phased manner
Now running in 8 schools in London , Leeds, and Hull
Where appropriate it is run in conjunction with the Community Box Program
Transition to Core Rackets Cubed Program when possible & in phased manner
Community Boxes
Weekly Boxes with all 3 Cubed elements
Education; reading and support books
Healthy foods
Personal Hygiene; Soap, Toothpaste
Activity; Rackets, puzzles, pencils, games
COVID 19 response to Support Young families7 Cities, supporting c. 900 families pw
Adapt the Boxes to reflect evolving need eg increase Education and Activity
Pathway to Core programmes, not food bank
COVID 19 response to Support Young families
Adapt the Boxes to reflect evolving need eg increase Education and Activity
Pathway to Core programmes, not food bank
COVID 19 Emergency Response - Integrated Food, Activity and Education - Partner Driven Scaling Strategy
6 Cities, 1250+ families , 6000+ people a week
We are finding that there is a significant unmet need in each of the Cities in which we operate Rackets Cubed programs. Our current expansion has focused on working with our existing partners to establish Hubs from which we evaluate need, and cluster schools. Typically we target to help up to 250 families and therefore approximately 1000 people in total at each Hub. We expect each City will end up with several hubs
- London, 3 sites in Wandsworth and Merton
- Hull, Stoneferry Primary
- Leeds, Hovingham Primary
- Birmingham, Billesley Primary
Important National and Local Food Partners
We are observing large numbers of families who have fallen through the cracks of provision, and have no income to fall back on whilst the lock down is in place. Often there are "newly vulnerable" in that they are not signed into any existing state programs, but have been caught out by the lack of work and no state benefits in the near term.
We have also benefit from support from National groups.
We have also benefit from support from National groups.
- FareShare, Magic Breakfast
- Dons Local Action Group across SW London
- Several of the Supermarkets are helping individual programs at a store level; Waitrose, Coop, Morrisons
Diversity of Activity Partners
We continue to look for innovative partners that can help us deliver fun indoor based activities to the children. Internet based provision is a challenge given the "digital divide" and tight living spaces
We are coordinating with the Sporting National Governing Bodies to source fun "socially distanced" sports equipment at low or zero costs egTable Tennis
Mini and Sponge Tennis
Badminton - with Balloons for indoor
We are coordinating with the Sporting National Governing Bodies to source fun "socially distanced" sports equipment at low or zero costs eg
Working with leading Educational, Funding, Hosting and Sports Partners
Funding Partners
We are proud to be supported by a group of outstanding funders who are supporting us through this key growth phase
- London Marathon Charitable Trust
- Sports England
- The National Lottery Community Fund
- The Sir John Cass Foundation
- The Wimbledon Foundation
- The St James Place Foundation
Education Partners
Roehampton University is London's largest Campus University. We change lives by helping our students to develop the confidence, knowledge and values they need for a successful and fulfilling life. We produce world-class research that helps us understand the world and change it for the better.
Reed’s runs numerous educational-based outreach programmes, and has a well- established bursary scheme to help vulnerable children by providing a life-changing education that will help to break the cycle of ‘family disadvantage’, inspire confidence and realise true potential through excellent educational provision and pastoral support.
Reed’s runs numerous educational-based outreach programmes, and has a well- established bursary scheme to help vulnerable children by providing a life-changing education that will help to break the cycle of ‘family disadvantage’, inspire confidence and realise true potential through excellent educational provision and pastoral support.
Sporting Partners
England Squash strives to help the sport grow and work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to provide engaging opportunities, from developing grassroots programmes and resources to producing world-class athletes.
The Tennis Foundation, Britain’s leading tennis charity believe anybody can play tennis. Anyone from any background and any community. No matter what their age, shape or ability.
The PSA Foundation is committed to inspire the next generation of squash players and foster the growth of our sport by making a positive impact on the communities that it reaches.
The Tennis Foundation, Britain’s leading tennis charity believe anybody can play tennis. Anyone from any background and any community. No matter what their age, shape or ability.
The PSA Foundation is committed to inspire the next generation of squash players and foster the growth of our sport by making a positive impact on the communities that it reaches.
Partnering with Inner-City Primary Schools
Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Roehampton is a warm and happy school located in South West London. We make the most of our extensive grounds for play, sports and outdoor learning activities but also for our prayer garden and Shetland Pony! Ofsted recently commended us on the ‘exceptional progress our children make across Key Stage 2’… and that the school ‘fosters exceptionally good relations so that pupils are deeply respectful’
- Runs 3 times a week since January 2017
- Squash after School on Monday (Yr. 5), Wednesday (Yr. 4), and Tennis on Fri (Yr. 3)
- The Alton Estate Postcode (SW15 4JE) has an IDACI score of 0.443
The Alton School
The Alton is an inclusive community school, next to Richmond Park. We are a one form entry school with a teacher and teaching assistant in each class. We have extensive facilities that offer our children a wide array of fantastic, vibrant and diverse opportunities. We are also home to a small Resource Base for children with moderate learning difficulties.
- Now runs 2 times a week since January 2018
- Tennis after School on Wednesday (Yr. 3), and Thursday (Yr. 4)
- The Alton Estate Postcode (SW15 4JE) has an IDACI score of 0.443
Heathmere School
Our vision is a school where all members of the school communitywork together so that children learn and achieve their full potential in a calm, safe and caring environment
- Values are Respect, Resilience and High Expectations
- Table Tennis after School on Wednesday
- The Alton Estate Postcode (SW15 4JE) has an IDACI score of 0.443
Prove and Improve - Evaluating Impact
Continual Evolution
We are in the early stages of developing the optimal model. It has shown encouraging impact, however we already can see significant ways we can expand, grow, innovate and improve all the programs..
Data collection and analysis are a core part of the charity. We have already run 2 impact reports, and plan for on-going, continual assessment
Data collection and analysis are a core part of the charity. We have already run 2 impact reports, and plan for on-going, continual assessment
Impact Report
Rackets Cubed has published our first Independent Impact Evaluation Report. It looked at Wellbeing, confidence, resilience, concentration and academic & sporting engagement of the programs.
The period covered all 4 London programs (Hosted at the National Tennis Centre, The Reed's School, the Roehampton club and Roehampton University), and ran from September 2018 to March 2019.
The period covered all 4 London programs (Hosted at the National Tennis Centre, The Reed's School, the Roehampton club and Roehampton University), and ran from September 2018 to March 2019.
Fitness Impact
Fitmedia are running a full year assessment across the 3 programs that are hosted at the Roehampton club. In November 2018, Fitmedia were invited to carry out an initial assessment of the children's fitness levels, in order to gain a baseline assessment of their current fitness.
This baseline testing comprised the following:
This baseline testing comprised the following:
- Standing Long Jump – to test the children’s lower body strength
- Illinois Agility Run – to test the children's speed, coordination and agility
- Handgrip test - to test the children's upper body strength.
Current Activities and Events
Selected Partner Perspectives
About Rackets Cubed
Background
Founded in late 2016, Rackets Cubed is a London-based charity that delivers integrated sport, education and nutrition programs to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged young children and raise their aspirations. We currently operate in 5 Cities (London, Birmingham, Hull, Leeds and Wakefield) with five programmes in London, one in Birmingham, and three in Yorkshire. We partner with “Aspirational Hosts” and local “inner city” schools. The hosts provide access, court time and teaching infrastructure free of charge.
Our Mission
Our mission is to support the provision of these integrated programmes regionally, plus facilitate the creation and development of similar programmes with affiliates nationally.
We plan to achieve our mission through 4 primary ways: