Tony Hanson has coached the Tees Valley Mohawks, one of Britain’s top basketball sides for over a decade, winning several league titles in the process.

In 1996 Mr Hanson set up the Hoop Dreams Social Enterprise, an educational basketball initiative formally run by Tees Valley Leisure, to help and guide young people at risk from anti-social behaviour and substance abuse.

The scheme has brought together local schools, the police, local NHS and social services as well as coaches and players from the Mohawks and has resulted in a remarkable reduction in youth crime in the area, as well as providing job opportunities for local people.

Ms Jowell said:

“I am very pleased to present Tony Hanson with this award. Thanks to Mr Hanson’s tireless efforts, thousands of young people in Tees Valley have benefited from the opportunities created by the Hoop Dreams Social Enterprise.”

Tony Hanson, who attended the presentation with his wife and two children, said on receiving the award:

"It gives me great pleasure to receive this honour.
 
"It seems ironic to be recognised for the work that one does for the community, work I would normally do without looking for any public acknowledgement.  It’s just my way of giving something back to the community, the same way that community activists did for me when I was a young person trying to find my own niche in life.
 
“I would like to acknowledge the support of my family, along with the late Mo Mowlam, our first patron, and retired Detective Superintendent Tom Stoddart.

Notes to editors

1. Tony Hanson is the director of the Hoop Dreams Social Enterprise, chair of Middlesbrough Black and Ethnic Minorities, and former regional sports and physical activity manager for Becon, a regional BME network organisation.