Founder of champion basketball academy awarded BEM in New Year Honours list

The founder of one of the UK’s most successful youth basketball programmes has been recognised by the Kings New Year Honours list. 

Jackson Gibbons, Basketball Academy Director at the City of London Academy Southwark (CoLA Southwark), has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to basketball, sport and young people.

Mr Gibbons said: “I feel extremely grateful to be acknowledged in this year’s honours list.

“It truly is a testament to being surrounded by such an amazing support network and some phenomenally brilliant young people who make the journey so worth it.”

CoLA Southwark, in Lynton Road, Bermondsey, is a member of the City of London Academies Trust.

Mr Gibbons founded the CoLA Southwark Basketball Academy  in 2013.

He has developed teams for under-12s, under-14s, under-16s and sixth-formers, as well as a community club. 

Mr Gibbons has guided his pupils to unprecedented success, with victories in multiple national championships including U17 Girls National Champions, U19 Girls National Champions, and U19 Boys National Runners-Up in the 2023-24 season alone. 

Across the past decade, the Academy has won 33 national titles.

Through his coaching and mentorship, Mr Gibbons has supported more than 90 students, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to gain full scholarships to US universities.

He said: “I’m looking forward to the direction the programme is moving in and impacting many more lives through basketball.”

Pictured top: Jackson Gibbons (Picture: CoLA Southwark)