Van Gaffney (far left) and youngsters he is working with join John Barnes, Tessa Jowell, Gordon Brown and Richard Caborn
Following the tragic murder of Liverpool youngster Anthony Walker in 2005 Van Gaffney contacted Kick It Out to help with an event he was organising.
Van has since formed strong links with us and gone on to organise a number of events reaching out to young people across Merseyside.
Explain what your organisation does?
"Toxteth Tigers Basketball Programme has been providing sporting opportunities for young Black people since 1968, since the riots in 1981 has widened its role to help tackle social issues such as racism, territorial tensions, bullying and developing black leaders.
"Over nearly 40 years of community work, Toxteth Tigers has branched out into over 20 activities such as Boxing, Martial Arts, Dance, Football, Tennis, Table Tennis and discrete mentoring services. We have average attendance figures of 7100 young people per month, 60% of which are BEM.
"We have also recently launched a new and exciting initiative, 'Changing Ends', in partnership with Kick It Out and the Football Foundation to combat racism in society and sport."
How have Kick It Out helped you?
"Working with Kick It Out has helped to give our organisation a higher profile and greater credibility both locally and nationally.
"We have established a wider network with agencies and partnerships, both sporting and non-sporting and also built on relationships with existing partners.
"It was Kick It Out who introduced us to the BBC and since then I have become the regional coordinator for the BBC Your Game project working with young people.
"People now approach us in larger numbers to help tackle racism in both sport and in the community.
"Through Kick It Out, John Hollis Davies of Toxteth Tigers and myself now sit on the Everton FC steering group against racism, tackling the any negative perceptions of Everton FC within the BEM communities of Merseyside."
How does the organisation benefit the community as a whole and not just those interested in sport?
"The Toxteth Tigers benefits our local community in many ways.
"We act as a drop in centre for the local community and assist many members of the community to further enhance their skills. We develop and empower our community with a particular focus on young people, assisting them to become good citizens, role models and good future employees. We also work with the greater community of Merseyside.
"Following the Anthony Walker murder in 2005, it was essential that all communities here provided a positive image of Merseyside, and sport, culture and the arts are used to get important messages across to young people."
What was your personal motivation to get involved in community work?
"Whilst at University studying Information Technology and Physical Education I set up a football camp in Gambia, West Africa, and it was after this that I realised I wanted to work with young people and those who have faced oppression, disadvantage and victimisation.
"It was after working with Kick It Out on the Anthony Walker festival and the Knowsley Against Racism event that I felt I could make a significant contribution in tackling racism in sport and society."
In five years time where do you see your organisation?
"We expect our organisation to grow providing a wide range of sports and cultural activities to young people to develop and meet the needs of those aged between 14-19.
"We also wish to be firmly stamping ourselves as the biggest sporting provider for BEM communities across Merseyside.
"We have currently assisted in the development of many local sporting role models such as Anika Onuora, 100m Silver Medallist in the Commonwealth and European Games, Lee Peltier, Liverpool FC and many basketball players who have gone on to play in the USA.
"Who knows, we may even be able to provide a few Olympians for London 2012."
To find out more about Toxteth Tigers check out there website -www.toxtethtigers.com or email them at info@toxtethtigers.com
