Transforming Lives Through Basketball: The Toxteth El8te Story

Chris Welford
Sep 10
6 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

From midnight sessions to city centre tournaments, one organisation is proving that basketball is about far more than just the game.

Toxteth El8te: A Beacon of Community Spirit

In the heart of Liverpool, Toxteth El8te is redefining community spirit. The streets of Toxteth have long produced talented basketball players. Now, a revolutionary programme is changing lives and challenging perceptions. Founded by local residents who saw a critical gap in youth provision, Toxteth El8te has evolved from a single weekly session into a five-day-a-week powerhouse. This initiative is garnering national and international attention.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the co-founders to explore how basketball is becoming a catalyst for community transformation in Liverpool.

From Personal Experience to Community Mission

"I grew up in Toxteth and was fortunate enough to have played basketball locally during my youth," the co-founder explains. This reflection highlights the programme's origins. The area has a rich legacy of producing talented basketball players. Yet, over two decades later, the co-founder was shocked to find no structured or consistent programme to nurture that potential.

This observation wasn't just about sport; it was about lost opportunity. Basketball had been instrumental for many young people in the area, providing structure, purpose, and pathways to success. However, by the 2020s, the sport had become increasingly commercialised and, in many cases, prohibitively expensive.

Toxteth El8te was founded with a clear mission: to provide high-level access to basketball without financial barriers. "We wanted to ensure that talent and passion—not the ability to pay—determined access to the sport," the co-founder emphasises.

Bringing Basketball to the Heart of Liverpool

The organisation's impact became highly visible with their LVP 3x3 events at Liverpool ONE, now in their third year. The 2024 event built on previous successes, transforming the city centre into an urban basketball arena.

"Hosting a large-scale basketball event in the heart of Liverpool city centre is a rare and powerful opportunity," notes the co-founder. "It not only brings the sport to a wider audience but also shines a spotlight on the talent and community spirit emerging from Toxteth."

The event saw a record turnout, with players travelling from across the UK to participate. More importantly, it demonstrated how sport can unite diverse communities in shared celebration while amplifying positive stories often overlooked by mainstream media.

Midnight Basketball: Meeting Young People Where They Are

Perhaps Toxteth El8te's most innovative programme is their Midnight Basketball sessions—the first of their kind in Liverpool. Inspired by successful US initiatives from the 1990s designed to reduce youth crime, these late-night sessions address a critical gap in provision.

"Young people are often most vulnerable during late hours, when there are fewer positive outlets and structured opportunities available," the co-founder explains. "By offering a vibrant, energetic, and safe environment during these hours, we're helping to reduce risk-taking behaviours and give young people something they can belong to."

The logic is compelling: rather than leaving young people without options during high-risk hours, provide them with structure, mentorship, and community. It's a preventative approach that recognises basketball as more than just recreation—it's a tool for social change.

Building Bridges Across Generations

What sets Toxteth El8te apart is its ability to transcend traditional age and social barriers. The programmes create platforms where teenagers, adults, and families all engage with basketball in ways that feel inclusive and community-led.

"Whether it's teenagers engaging in Midnight Basketball or families turning out to support events at Liverpool ONE, we're seeing basketball become a catalyst for connection and unity," the co-founder observes. "We've created spaces where young people, older participants, and families can all feel they belong."

This intergenerational approach has fostered social cohesion not only within Toxteth but across wider Liverpool communities. By hosting events in highly visible public spaces, the organisation reaches people who might not usually seek out sport, creating a shared sense of belonging that extends far beyond the basketball court.

Success Stories That Validate the Vision

When asked about memorable moments, the co-founder's pride is evident: "One standout moment from last year was watching our newly formed U-16 team thrive. Despite being together for only a short time, several players quickly progressed to represent clubs nationally and even internationally."

This rapid progression isn't just about athletic talent—it's validation of the organisation's holistic approach. "It's not just about producing athletes—it's about creating viable pathways for young people to grow, develop, and realise their potential, both on and off the court," they explain.

The success encapsulates what Toxteth El8te represents: removing barriers, providing opportunity, and showing young people what's possible when they're supported and believed in.

Measuring Impact Beyond the Scoreboard

For Toxteth El8te, success metrics go far beyond wins and losses. "We look at success not just in terms of trophies or matches won, but in the holistic development of the young people we work with," the co-founder explains.

Impact is measured through participation numbers, personal growth stories, and the strength of the community that's grown around the programmes. "We're building more than basketball players—we're nurturing responsible, engaged young human beings."

This broader vision is evident in the vibrant, confident youth community that's emerged, one that feeds positive energy back into the wider local environment. These outcomes may not fit neatly into data spreadsheets, but they're visible every week in the energy, passion, and progress of participants.

The Power of Partnership

None of this would be possible without strategic partnerships and community support. The Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership, particularly Debi McAndrew, has been instrumental in enabling free access from day one. Support from Operation Stonehaven at Merseyside Police has been vital in helping the organisation reach and engage audiences safely and effectively.

"Equally important are our volunteers—the lifeblood of Toxteth El8te," the co-founder emphasises. "Their passion, commitment, and consistency are what keep the programme running week after week."

For those inspired by this work, there are multiple ways to get involved. Whether through business sponsorship, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, the organisation welcomes all forms of collaboration in their mission to grow the game and support the community.

Looking to the Future

When asked about future plans, the co-founder's excitement is palpable, though details remain under wraps. "We've got some exciting developments on the horizon that we can't quite reveal yet—but rest assured, they're all grounded in our core mission: to grow the game, support our community, and ensure that everyone—regardless of background—has the chance to be part of something bigger."

What's clear is that Toxteth El8te sees itself at the beginning of a longer journey. Having proven that removing financial barriers and providing consistent, high-quality programming can transform lives, the organisation is poised for expansion.

A Model for Community Sport

Toxteth El8te's story offers valuable lessons for communities across the UK. By identifying gaps in provision, removing financial barriers, and creating programmes that meet young people where they are—literally, in the case of Midnight Basketball—they've demonstrated how sport can be a powerful tool for social change.

Their success challenges assumptions about what's possible in areas often written off by wider society. Through basketball, they're not just developing athletes; they're building community resilience, creating positive role models, and offering young people genuine alternatives to risk-taking behaviours.

As Liverpool continues to evolve and grow, organisations like Toxteth El8te remind us that true regeneration comes not from grand developments but from grassroots initiatives that invest in people, particularly young people, and give them the tools to shape their own futures.

The journey, as the co-founder notes, is just getting started. But if the past few years are any indication, Toxteth El8te's impact will be felt far beyond the basketball court. It will ripple through generations and communities in ways that transform not just individual lives, but the very fabric of Liverpool itself.

About Toxteth El8te

Founded by local residents passionate about basketball and community development, Toxteth El8te provides free, high-quality basketball programming five days a week in Liverpool. From grassroots training to city centre tournaments and innovative Midnight Basketball sessions, the organisation is committed to ensuring that talent and passion—not financial resources—determine access to sport.

Get Involved:

Website: www.toxtethel8te.com
Info Deck: www.toxtethel8te.com/deck
Open Sessions: www.toxtethel8te.com/open-sessions
Instagram: @ToxtethEl8te

About This Interview

This interview was conducted as part of Launchpad Magazine's Summer 2025 issue, celebrating local organisations making a difference in their communities. View the full issue at Launchpad Magazine Summer Issue.

References

Merseyside Violence Reduction Partnership. (2024). Community Sport Initiatives Annual Report. Liverpool: MVRP.
Operation Stonehaven, Merseyside Police. (2024). Youth Engagement Through Sport: Impact Assessment. Liverpool: Merseyside Police.
National Midnight Basketball League. (2023). The History and Impact of Midnight Basketball Programs. Retrieved from https://www.nationalmidnightbasketball.org
Sport England. (2024). Breaking Down Barriers: Access to Sport in Urban Communities. London: Sport England.
Youth Sport Trust. (2024). The Role of Sport in Crime Prevention: UK Case Studies. Loughborough: YST.