Humble Beginnings:

  MM founder, Nhamo Shire, talks about how he started the very first Midnight Madness events in London 10 years ago...

WHO WE ARE

Midnight Madness is the biggest summer basketball tournament in the UK. Quite unlike anything that came before it and anything that's been attempted since, MM is a nationwide basketball competition with a difference. We provide unparallelled balling opportunities for British players, delivering the type of exposure, platform, support and playing experiences not otherwise available in the UK. Through our events and programs, we are committed to positively impacting young people through the game of basketball and widening their horizons so they aspire to reach higher in their lives both on and off the court.

The program was originally created in 1999 to help combat gun crime in Harlesden, North West London, using a series of basketball 'open runs' through the night as a positive diversionary activity for young people. Thanks to the support of the many thousands of ballers and spectators over the years, we now engage more people than any other summer basketball program in Europe, with over 5,000 players competing in our national series of events - watched by over 15,000 live spectators and a tv/digital audience in excess of 1.5M in the UK alone.

We are committed to helping develop the game of basketball and 'bridging the gaps' in existing provision for players at all levels. Our aim is to provide players with the platform, support and opportunities they need to get to their 'next level' - wherever or whatever that may be.

Through our programs we are committed to giving all players a fair and equal opportunity to play, compete and develop skills, in a safe and secure environment. We strongly believe in the positive values of community and re-investing time and skills back into the local areas we reach. We work with MM winners from previous years on nurturing a sense of responsibility and providing avenues for them to 'give back' through basketball to the neighbourhoods in which they live throughout the year. Through our charitable arm 'Reach & Teach', we provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, education and vocational training programs in schools, colleges and estates across the UK. We are collectively dedicated to showing ballers at all levels that their hard work, commitment and dedication displayed on the court can be translated into success off the court - giving them a positive route off the streets.

What started out as a local initiative, staged through the night to give young people something more positive to do, has now grown into a basketball phenomenon that has become internationally known, nationally respected and locally accepted everywhere we go.

To learn more about how our tournament works,

If you're interested in learning more about what we do through Reach & Teach, check out:

If you would like more information or would like to get involved with helping on any of our programs, email us at:

click here.

www.reachandteach.co.uk

helpside@midnight-madness.com