Swindon Shock Basketball Team Coach Starts New Programme with New College Swindon Sports Students

New College Swindon Level 2 Sports learners have started a three-week wheelchair basketball programme delivered by Wesley Newman, who coaches at the Swindon Shock Wheelchair Basketball Club (WBC).

Wesley, who previously studied Graphic Design and Game Development at New College Swindon, has returned to teach able-bodied learners the techniques and challenges of coaching this sport.

Swindon Shock is a not-for-profit organisation that allows anyone to get involved in a level-playing field for basketball. In 2022, Wesley started running Swindon Shock, working to build and expand disability sport. In July 2025, he returned to New College Swindon in the Sports Centre team to coach alongside this.

Almost all of the equipment used for the sessions belongs to Swindon Shock WBC. The chairs are worth between £500-£7,000 each, due to being custom-made to suit their members’ needs.

Wesley said, “The message I want to imprint is that able-bodied and disabled basketball players can be in the same team. These students should have a new respect for the challenges that disabled sports players face and adapt their approach to coaching after these sessions.”

Students who are involved will experience and learn about sports for disabilities, develop new coaching strategies and develop a range of additional personal skills and qualities, e.g. confidence, communication and teamwork.

Owen Hill, Level 2 Sports student, said, “Aside from new coaching skills, I’m learning new things about fitness, competition, and sportsmanship. I’ve made new friends doing this.”

Kaicie Miles, who is on the same programme, said, “I’m grateful to do this experience as I know other places might not give students the opportunity. There are things I’ve learnt that I can take into my career.”

Swindon Shock WBC trains on Friday evenings at New College Swindon’s Sports Centre on the Queens Drive Campus. More information can be found on Facebook, Instagram and their website www.swindonshockwbc.co.uk.

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