McDonald’s Nottingham Hoods are very proud to announce that General Manager, Lee English has received a Torch Trust Award for his volunteer work with the Hoods.
The Torch Trophy Trust is a charity whose main aims are to reward volunteers in sport and recreation and to recognise and support their endeavours.
This year’s Awards Ceremony, the 52nd event, was held at the Army & Navy Club in Pall Mall on Tuesday, where Lee received his award from HRH Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Realising that there was no exit route for players beyond the age of 18 and tired of seeing Nottingham’s young people fall into the usual stereotypes, Lee established the Nottingham Hoods Basketball Club in 2009 in a bid to get Nottingham Basketball on the map and to “Get kids off the streets, out of their seats and active”
The club Lee established is a totally non-profit making organisation and is run by volunteers. Its aim is to engage with children through sport and to help them to develop as well as keeping them active and healthy. Even the name was carefully chosen to fit with Nottingham’s most famous resident, Robin Hood, another local hero who was smashing stereotypes before his time, but also for the deeper meaning associated with today’s youngsters.
Lee has managed to create a flourishing club with local networks and initiatives, while still coaching across the age groups, nearly every day of the week. With Lee at the helm, the Hoods won a Senior National Championship in its first year, has an ever expanding junior section at mini, u-12, u-14, u-16 and u-18, a successful Ladies team and currently two Senior men’s teams playing in the Basketball England National Leagues.
The awards committee cited, ‘Lee has proven to be a credit to Nottingham as a city and to the sport of basketball. He deserves every accolade that comes his way.’
Club Captain Bruce Lauder commented, “We are all so proud of Lee in winning this award. Lee works tirelessly for this club, putting in countless hours at every level of the club, be it Junior, Ladies, Local League, National League or our recent University partnership with Nottingham Trent. He is The Hoods, he had a vision in 2009 and has done everything he can to achieve it. We are not purely a basketball club, but we are a family, with a lot of the Junior players especially, looking up to Lee as a father figure. As a club, we cannot thank him enough.”
Lee English was typically reserved when asked about the award, “I am so pleased that the Club has won this reward. I have had numerous people congratulate me on winning, but it is not just for me. There is a team of volunteers throughout the club that help, support and give everything to make this club a success. From taking training sessions and running events to social media, match-days and kit designs, not to mention the litter picking and charity work they do around Nottingham, we are a family club and I am proud of each and every member and thank them sincerely for everything they have done, and will do for this wonderful club – this award is for them.”
More details on the award can be found at www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/programmes-initiatives/torch-trophy-trust/awards
The Torch Trophy Trust has its origins in the 1948 Olympics which were held in London. Since the Berlin Olympic Games a torch relay has been organised from Athens to the Host City and following the 1948 Games, the Torch designed for the last leg of the relay into Wembley Stadium was presented to the Trust.
For the Torch Trophy Trust, the flaming torch symbolises its dedication to helping and recognising the efforts of volunteers in sport. The Trust is entirely run by volunteers and the secretariat for the Trust is provided by the Sport and Recreation Alliance.
Nottingham Hoods are a community club with teams from under 12’s to under 18’s, they also have a women’s section. For further information check out the club Web Site www.hoodsbasketball.com
If you would like to watch a game or become a part of the Hoods family the check out www.hoodbasketball.com or follow @hoodsbasketball on Twitter
