BYA Awards 2010 | Page 8

Category 1 SPORTS Nominees: The Sponsor: The Macpro Ltd. Ebuka Bob-Ume .................................... Chantelle Avery .................................... George Nartey .................................... Rotimi Adeeko .................................... Michael Carty is the director of Macpro Ltd, a youth training development initiative providing opportunities for young people who have an interest in working and participating in global youth, sports and social education programmes. Macpro develops innovative community sports and leadership training. Our training programmes are tailored to suit young people of all levels and abilities, aged 14 to 25. A former professional basketball player and a qualified Level 3 basketball coach, Michael has over twenty five years’ experience in managing capacity-building activities and supportive services for young people, including the Macpro Basketball League which has been running since 2003. Macpro Ltd. provides support for young people in disadvantaged areas of Southwark and Lambeth, with a main focus on basketball training. This has proved very successful and resulted in significant youth achievement locally and internationally. In 2009, we won the prestigious ‘Black Business Initiative’ Sports, Heritage & Culture award, in recognition of the valuable services we offer to young people in South London. We are supported by youth volunteers who have come through our social development programme over the years and gone on to recognised clubs pursuing career goals through higher education. The emphasis is on having fun and building self-attainment within sport, through disciplined participation in programmes which cover diverse areas of sports leadership. As Michael puts it,“I grew up in care, and as a teenager lived in Brixton and experienced deprivation at first hand. I faced life challenges head on, and sport gave me the opportunity to strive for personal empowerment and a sense of fulfillment”. Macpro believes that sport enables young people to be disciplined individuals, enabling them to carefully consider life choices and open the door to greater opportunities. As such, our training programmes play a key role in helping to raise aspirations in the community.