Sponsorship helps Rebels take the court while supporting their off-court work in communities

Global payments provider Elavon Merchant Services is the headline sponsor of the University of Essex Rebels basketball club for season 2022/23.

The Essex Rebels, based in Colchester, compete in the Women’s British Basketball League & Men’s Division 1 National Basketball League.

It’s the second successive season that Elavon has been the Rebels’ major sponsor.

Hemlata Narasimhan, President of Elavon Merchant Services, says, “Not only do the Essex Rebels have one of the best university basketball programmes in the UK, the Rebels players are also role models in their communities and are inspiring younger people to pursue both their academic and sporting passions. This spirit of giving back resonates strongly with our core values at Elavon and we couldn’t be more pleased to align ourselves with the Rebels.”

Simon Lister, Business Development Manager at the University of Essex, says, “Sponsorship is everything. It makes the difference between having the Essex Rebels Programme and not – it’s that important to us. Elavon is changing lives.”

The Rebels have been making a difference on and off the court since the club’s inaugral season in 2018/19.

After an undefeated run, the women’s student team took home the 2022 BUCS Championship title (British Universities and Colleges Sports).

This success has been equally matched by that of Rebels Play, a club for children aged 5-14, and the Essex Rebels Juniors offering skills and confidence building (with or without the need to compete) for those aged 12-18.

Then there’s the real game-changing Rebels Roadshow schools engagement programme, where Rebels players go into primary schools to host assemblies, run training classes or after-school clubs and conduct skills-based workshops.

Simon Lister, Business Development Manager at the University of Essex, says, “Our players talk to the children about dual-career pathways and mixing professional sport with academic passions. It’s a concept many of the children don’t realise is an option, and nor do their parents.”

“Our players become mentors. They talk to the children about goals, having targets and aspirations. You can see the impact it has on the children’s faces and, often, their parents too.”