Hoop Dreams is a relationship strategy, based on the principle that engagement through sport and the building of mutual respect and trust can provide cultural ‘gateways’ to alternative lifestyles. Through the engagement of young people in sport and activity based programmes, role models develop relationships based on mutual trust and respect in order to create new opportunities fro alternative more fulfilled lifestyles.

The programme aims to use sport as a catalyst to encourage participants to make decisions for themselves, and to take self-determined steps towards a positive future. Steering young people towards educational employment opportunities is at the heart of the programme’s agenda.

At the heart of the approach lies the community ‘sports coach/mentor’, since part of the attraction of sports-led social interventions is the delivery agents’ possession of a much respected and sought-after level of skill and ability. This can overcome the reluctance of some young people to become involved in organised activity.