The Harry & Janice Banks Foundation has announced a new funding partnership with Eagles Community Foundation to support the delivery of youth basketball programmes designed to engage, inspire, and empower young people across the region.

This investment will enable the Foundation to expand access to structured basketball sessions, coaching, and development opportunities for children and teenagers, particularly within communities where access to organised sport and positive activities can often be limited.

Focused on increasing participation in grassroots sport, the initiative aims to promote physical activity, teamwork, confidence, resilience, and positive life skills through inclusive and accessible basketball provision.


Funding from the Harry & Janice Banks Foundation will enable Eagles Foundation to deliver more grassroots sport activity and empower young people through community engagement.

Through the partnership, hundreds of young people are expected to benefit from high-quality coaching sessions, community engagement activities, and clear pathways for continued participation in basketball and wider sport.

The programme will be delivered by newly appointed community coach Charlotte Redhead, who brings significant playing and coaching experience to the role. A former high-level junior basketball player, Charlotte has represented teams within elite development pathways and has built a strong reputation within the North East basketball community through her coaching work with young athletes.

Alongside Charlotte’s community coaching experience, she has also been involved with the Basketball England junior basketball setup in a support staff capacity, gaining valuable experience working within national performance programmes and is currently assistant coach to the Newcastle Eagles Women’s Super League Basketball team. Her background as both a player and coach places her in a strong position to inspire and support the next generation of young basketball participants.


Coach Charlotte Redhead (centre) with Charlie Iveson and Lucy Hinds from The Harry & Janice Banks Foundation with pupils from South Tyneside’s Biddick Hall Junior School who are some of the first to benefit from the new funding.

A spokesperson for The Harry & Janice Banks Foundation said: “We’re delighted to support the Eagles Community Foundation. Sport opens up so many opportunities for young people and it’s great to see the impact already being made.”

Sam Blake, CEO of Eagles Community Foundation, added: “This funding is instrumental in helping us reach more young people and deliver meaningful experiences through basketball.

“We are extremely grateful for the support and shared commitment to empowering communities. Charlotte’s appointment is also a hugely positive step for the programme.

“She brings genuine passion for developing young people, strong experience within the game, and an understanding of the positive impact basketball can have within communities.”


The collaboration reflects a shared vision of using sport as a vehicle for social good, ensuring young people have access to safe, engaging, and developmental opportunities that can positively influence both physical wellbeing and long-term personal development.