Canon Medical Systems empowers young people in Sheffield with renewed Sharks and Hatters community partnership
With rising mental health challenges, social exclusion, inactivity and online harm affecting more young people across South Yorkshire, Canon Medical UK is expanding its community partnership with the Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters professional basketball clubs.
Building on a collaboration that began in 2018, the two-year commitment continues to invest in the RESPECT and RESPECT TOO programmes, the new Sheffield Sharks Youth Brand Ambassadors Programme and Hatters wellbeing initiative under one unified community partnership. These initiatives use sport and mentorship to support physical health, emotional resilience and life readiness.
The RESPECT programme, for pupils aged seven to 11, blends six hours of basketball coaching with workshops on themes such as digital safety, mental health, teamwork and healthy lifestyles, with around 900 children participating. RESPECT TOO, for secondary school students, offers a six-week intervention aimed at preventing anti-social behaviour and promoting positive choices.
The new Sheffield Sharks Youth Brand Ambassadors Programme, delivered by the Sheffield Sharks with support from Canon Medical UK and charity One Million Mentors, provides RESPECT graduates with mentoring, interview preparation, CV support, work experience and monthly coaching. Canon Medical UK staff are trained as mentors and involved in delivering one-to-one guidance.
The new Hatters wellbeing initiative expands support for girls aged nine to 16 through 14 themed workshops on topics such as body image, confidence and resilience, alongside 28 basketball sessions that focus on physical literacy and enjoyment of movement.
Canon Medical Systems UK MD Mark Hitchman commented: “As a business, we believe we have a responsibility to do more than simply operate in a community; we want to contribute in ways that endure and enrich every life we touch. By combining sport, mentoring and education, we’re not only helping young people build confidence and resilience, but also supporting wider public health goals.”
Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters MD Sarah Backovic added: “This next phase in our programme is about going further. We’ve seen firsthand how powerful sport can be in changing lives; we want to strengthen that impact. By unifying our programmes and introducing support for girls and young women, we can offer even more young people the structure and encouragement they need to feel seen, valued and capable of achieving more.”
Picture: Building confidence on court during a RESPECT programme coaching session.
Read this report on page 26 of the May 2026 issue of RAD Magazine.
