Dear Respected Basketball England clubs and members,
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for the continuous support that you have shown towards both the sport of basketball and the governing body as integral members of Basketball England. Through this correspondence, I am pleased to announce forthcoming alterations and enhancements to our services, as well as pivotal information regarding adjustments to our membership structure.
First and foremost, I would like to offer my apologies for the recent disruptions that occurred at the start of the 2023/24 season. These disruptions may have inconvenienced you and led to interruptions in the services we provide to our esteemed members. We encountered considerable challenges with our digital platform, prompting us to re-evaluate our operational processes with our service provider.
In response to this, our supplier will be implementing a more rigorous approach to the development and testing of the membership portal before its launch for the upcoming season. Furthermore, we have engaged the participation of selected members in the testing process as part of our commitment to rectify these issues.
Your ongoing support and payment of membership fees are crucial in shaping the future of the sport at all levels. It enables us to govern and safeguard the sport, uphold the interests of our 40,000 members, and further develop the game’s integrity and reach during challenging economic circumstances.
We remain steadfast in our goal to collaborate with you in expanding our membership base, in an effort to leverage greater influence and resources for the betterment of the game.
With that being said, I am delighted to announce several changes and enhancements to our services and preparations for the upcoming season. These improvements have been carefully designed to provide both immediate and long-term benefits, allowing you to derive the utmost satisfaction from your involvement in basketball.
We have taken into account the valuable feedback received from our members throughout the season and fully understand the need for improved customer service systems, along with additional training to ensure that your enquiries are addressed promptly.
Furthermore, we are committed to providing the appropriate channels for you to reach us, with the aim of expediting the turnaround time for your enquiries. Beginning in June, we will be introducing new customer service timings, including weekends, to provide support on game days and during peak licensing periods.
Recognizing the vital role played by regional, local associations, and clubs, we emphasize the significance of working alongside them to provide robust support to the grassroots game, uniting national, regional, and local entities in nurturing and expanding the sport.
In line with our dedication to better serve our members, we are revamping our membership structure to better align with your needs. This includes simplifying membership categories, enhancing the visibility and accessibility of member services, and introducing an array of individual member benefits, such as access to the Endurance Zone platform, which features discounted brands and exclusive kit bundles.
This initiative will be spearheaded by Marc Dring, our newly appointed Membership Innovation Manager, who brings a wealth of experience in membership, marketing, and fan engagement from professional football and racing.
The introduction of the Supporter Membership aims to engage a wider audience and reward fans and followers of the game, in turn, bolstering support for clubs. The Participant Membership is designed to benefit local league participants and contribute to the enhancement of regional services, while the Performance Membership will further elevate our general services, the NBL, and other competitions.
In the upcoming 2024/25 season, Basketball England will direct its membership fees towards funding a range of core services essential for governing the sport, and laying the groundwork for sustaining participation and growth in the long run. I anticipate providing further updates on these developments between May and September, outlining their implications for our members and how they can capitalize on these benefits.
Moreover, we are set to adopt a new model for supporting the British Basketball Federation, working closely with our Home Country Association partners, basketballscotland and Basketball Wales. This strategic alliance aims to bolster talent development and enhance international success by providing structured financial support to the BBF from the 2024-25 season onwards.
In conclusion, I wish to assure you that the forthcoming changes to our service accessibility and our unwavering commitment to the success of the upcoming season are geared towards empowering our members to derive the utmost satisfaction from their basketball experience.
I trust that you have enjoyed a rewarding season, and I trust that you find this update on our support strategy beneficial. To kick-start the next season, team entries for the 2024/25 NBL season are now open. For further information, please click the link below.
With warm regards,
Stewart Kellet
CEO, Basketball England