Out & About April 2017

The first thing I had to ask the club’s founder Jacqueline Scoins-Cass was why she devotes nearly all her free time to a minority sport in this country, and a team that many in West Berkshire wouldn’t know existed in Thatcham. The idea began as a 12-month project for her Queen’s Guide Award, she tells me, and has become a 12-year endeavour. “I haven’t had a free weekend since – every weekend has been a basketball weekend.” She says that a lack of a club in Berkshire for people with disabilities, combined with wanting to help friends at Kennet School, had led to her involvement in disabled sport. “I enjoy making a difference to people’s lives and people describe this as a second family. “We don’t talk disability here, we just talk basketball. It’s not a focus on what they can’t do, it’s what they can do and for some of the guys it’s skills that make life easier, like pushing their chairs and exercising. It’s a support network as well.

“We don’t talk disability here, we just talk basketball.”

“We have had more than 100 people since day one. Although not everyone has stayed with it, they have got a greater understanding of disabilities and what is achievable. And I enjoy it, I wouldn’t give up every weekend if I didn’t.” The club’s commitment to help players is something to admire. With no clubhouse or grounds, like most other sports clubs, nearly all of the special wheelchairs are stored in houses and have to be brought to every match and training session. The Kings have around 25 chairs, and with top-of-the-range ones costing between £2,500 and £4,000, the club has been busy fundraising over the years so that the players don’t need to pay out. This is on top of normal running costs such as hall hire. Jacqueline’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2011, at the age of 26, she was appointed an MBE for voluntary services. And this year, aged 31, she scooped a lifetime achievement award at the Get Berkshire Active awards. “The MBE – that was quite a surprise,” she says. “I received the letter for nomination and I couldn’t believe it. It was really kind of special and surprising, and nice to be recognised for all my achievements. “The lifetime achievement award, again I was not expecting that, but it was nice to be recognised and at such a young age as well.” With such an impressive résumé it’s easy to think of the good that the club has done, especially when you hear it from the people who have experienced it first-hand. Club captain Wayne Barton tells me that Jacqueline is an inspiration: “For what she’s achieved it was great to see her pick up something so good as that at her age. Thirteen years – it’s a great achievement, especially as it’s all run by volunteers, for her to bring together people, bring the chairs here and to raise the money.” Team member Vickie Simmonds added: “She’s phenomenal. She has changed so many people’s lives by founding this club and what she gives to us all each week. She’s completely changed all of our lives by giving us this sport.” Inspiration

JACQUELINE SCOINS-CASS

PETER SCOINS (coach)

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