Drug Aware Ignite Basketball program funding

The City of Armadale has successfully secured funding to ensure the Drug Aware Ignite Basketball program will continue for the remainder of 2014.

This Saturday the Ignite participants will host the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Terry Waldron; Director General of the Department of Sport and Rec, Ron Alexander; and Acting Director General of Department for Child Protection and Family Support at a showcase to see where the funding goes.

Drug Aware Ignite Basketball is a full time, sport based intervention that uses basketball to engage vulnerable young people through physical activity, leadership development, education/training and community involvement.

Mayor Henry Zelones said now that the Ignite program is well established and recognised within the community, the City was not only successful in securing funding, but additional volunteers to provide essential support. The City has increased its own contribution in order to keep this valuable program afloat.

"We are very pleased to have 325 young people already registered with Ignite this year, showing the need for this type of intervention program within the community.

"Of course the success of the program would not have been possible without the support of our funding partners; Department of Sport and Recreation ($150,000 over three years), WA Police Strategic Crime Prevention Division ($25,000), Healthway ($30,000 per year for the next two years), the Department of Child Protection and Family Support ($20,000 per year for the next three years), Public Transport Authority ($10,000) and the Local Drug Action Group ($5,000).

"The City is committed to joining with other agencies to provide a suite of youth intervention programs and we will continue to advocate for additional funding to ensure the program continues into 2015 and beyond.

"This will be a great opportunity for the Minister and Director Generals to see firsthand the great results this program has been achieving," said Mayor Zelones.

Ignite now consists of three teams that participate in the Perth Redbacks league on Saturday mornings, two U16s (Ignite Diamonds and Tigers) and an U14s team (Ignite Warriors).

Through a partnership with the Perth Redbacks, four Ignite Basketball participants were scouted and invited to try out at a USA college scholarship camp.

The program also provides individual recognition through achievement certificates and the opportunity for young people to gain Level 1 basketball qualifications in coaching, refereeing and administration.

A total of 44 coaches and referees have been qualified since the program started and three are now members of staff, providing essential mentoring and acting as role models for the younger participants.

For more information regarding the Ignite Basketball program visit www.facebook.com/ignitebasketball.