With rising mental health challenges, social exclusion, inactivity and online harm affecting more young people across South Yorkshire, Canon Medical UK is expanding its long-standing community partnership with the Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters – two of the UK’s leading professional basketball clubs, based in Sheffield.
Building on a collaboration that began in 2018, the renewed two-year commitment continues to invest in the RESPECT and RESPECT TOO programmes, the new Sheffield Sharks Youth Brand Ambassadors Programme, and Hatters wellbeing initiative under one unified community partnership. Together, these initiatives use sport and mentorship to support physical health, emotional resilience, and life readiness – equipping young people with the skills and confidence they need for school, work, and beyond.
The unified partnership includes:
- RESPECT, for primary school pupils aged 7–11, blends six hours of basketball coaching with workshops focused on themes such as digital safety, mental health, teamwork and healthy lifestyles, with around 900 children participating. It ends with a tournament at the Canon Medical Arena, celebrating progress and participation.
- RESPECT TOO, for secondary school students, offers a six-week intervention aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour and promoting positive choices. It supports young people at risk of disengagement or gang involvement through sport-led sessions and workshops on inclusion, respect and responsibility.
- The new Sheffield Sharks Youth Brand Ambassadors Programme, delivered by the Sheffield Sharks with support from Canon Medical UK and One Million Mentors (1MM, a national charity which delivers mentoring for young people across the UK), provides RESPECT graduates with mentoring, interview preparation, CV support, work experience and monthly coaching. Canon Medical UK staff are trained as 1MM Mentors and actively involved in delivering one-to-one guidance and real-world insight.
- The Hatters wellbeing initiative, another new addition to the partnership, expands support for girls aged 9–16 through 14 themed workshops on topics such as body image, confidence and resilience, alongside 28 basketball sessions that focus on physical literacy and enjoyment of movement. Around 300 additional girls are expected to benefit.
These programmes are delivered across local schools and held at dedicated classrooms within Canon Medical Arena, which also serves as a professional sports venue and medical diagnostic facility.
Mark Hitchman, Managing Director of Canon Medical Systems UK, commented, “As a business, we believe we have a responsibility to do more than simply operate in a community – we want to contribute in ways that endure and enrich every life we touch. This renewed and expanded partnership reflects that belief. We’re building on years of collaboration with new initiatives like the Hatters wellbeing initiative and a more integrated approach across all activity. By combining sport, mentoring and education, we’re not only helping young people build confidence and resilience, but also supporting wider public health goals. It’s about prevention – encouraging healthy lifestyles, emotional wellbeing and inclusion from an early age, particularly in communities that need it most.”
Sarah Backovic, Managing Director of the Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters, added,
“This next phase in our programme is about going further. We’ve seen first-hand how powerful sport can be in changing lives – we want to strengthen that impact. By unifying our programmes, and introducing new support for girls and young women, we can offer even more young people the structure and encouragement they need to feel seen, valued and capable of achieving more.”
Marko Backovic, Community Programme Lead for RESPECT, RESPECT TOO and the Sheffield Sharks Youth Brand Ambassadors Programme, concluded: “RESPECT isn’t just about basketball; it’s about helping young people realise their potential. The expanded partnership means we can offer more support beyond school years too, through mentoring, workshops and real-world experiences. It’s about opening doors and giving them the confidence and skills to make positive choices that can shape their future.”
For more information on Canon Medical UK’s community programmes, visit: Community Partnerships – Canon Medical Systems Ltd.