sport
Brixton Wheelchair Basketball Club Thrives as £1.4M Rec Centre Upgrade Begins
The inclusive club, which runs weekly sessions at the fully accessible Brixton Recreation Centre, is gaining momentum as the centre prepares for a £1.4 million refurbishment including new bowling lanes and VR sports rooms.
How we reported this
In a corner of south London, a wheelchair basketball club is making headlines for its inclusive approach and competitive spirit. Brixton Ballers, which holds open sessions and team training every Saturday from 2:00 to 5:00 pm at the fully accessible Brixton Recreation Centre, has become a cornerstone of community sport in Lambeth. The club caters to athletes aged eight and over, offering both recreational play and the chance to compete in two leagues.
The timing of the club's rise is no coincidence. Lambeth Council is investing £1.4 million in Brixton Recreation Centre, known locally as Brixton Rec, for a major refurbishment that includes a gym upgrade, three tenpin bowling lanes costing £330,000, and a virtual reality multi-sports room valued at £60,000. The gym refurbishment, budgeted at £125,000, is scheduled to begin in the week commencing 28 July 2026. For clubs like Brixton Ballers, these improvements signal a long-term commitment to accessible sport in the area.
Inclusive sport on the rise
Brixton Ballers is one of several inclusive sports programs based at Brixton Rec. Club Lambeth, an accessible multi-sport club for disabled people aged 11 and over, runs on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, costing £4 per session. The centre also hosts a Family Leisure Zone with soft play, an interactive agility course, an Active Climb area, bowling, a multi-sport simulator, and private karaoke booths. These offerings are part of a broader push by Lambeth Council to make sport and recreation available to everyone, regardless of ability or background.
Elsewhere in Brixton, Ferndale Community Sports Centre received a premises licence in September 2024 to host private parties and sell alcohol, enabling events like wedding receptions. The centre also hosts Lambeth Walkers Walking FC, an inclusive walking football club that meets every Friday (7:30-8:30 pm) and Sunday (10:00-11:00 am) for men, women, and all abilities, at £5 per session or £20 monthly. The St Matthew's Project runs an annual Lambeth Girls' Schools Football League for years 7-10 at Ferndale, partnered with Lambeth Council and funded by Sport England.
New facilities on the horizon
Beyond the Rec, Brixton's sporting infrastructure is expanding. Evelyn Grace Academy completed Lambeth's first FA-approved 3G football pitch, now open for community hire with floodlights for year-round use. And in July 2026, Anytime Fitness opened its largest UK gym in Brixton, a 12,000 sq ft facility at Ivor House, featuring 24/7 access and specialised HIIT and spin studios.
For Brixton Ballers, the future looks bright. The club's weekly sessions at the fully accessible Brixton Recreation Centre provide a rare opportunity for athletes of all abilities to train together and compete in two leagues. As the £1.4 million refurbishment takes shape, the club stands to benefit from upgraded facilities that will enhance the experience for players and spectators alike. Whether you're a seasoned player or trying wheelchair basketball for the first time, the club's Saturday afternoon sessions offer a welcoming entry point into one of sport's most dynamic and inclusive communities.