Our Research and Insights
Sported’s research and insight provides an authoritative look into the environment surrounding community sport, grassroots sport and community groups – with data and knowledge from our team that informs decision-making and the support we offer.
For further information about our research and insight work, or to discuss research collaborations or partnerships with us, please contact: insight@sported.org.uk
Key words: place-based, communities, groups
Key learnings for delivering impact in place-based working from Sported’s Connected Communities programmes in Hartlepool, Rhyl, Isle of Wight and London
Key words: volunteering, volunteers
Sported, in conjunction with WCVA and other partners, examines the challenges and blocks surrounding volunteering in sport – and the proposed solutions to build capacity and attract more volunteers.
Key words: economic pressure, wellbeing, cost of living, affordability, participation
Grassroots sport needs more backing in order to avert the risk that many community hubs will be lost to economic pressures with local organisations insisting there isn’t enough investment to maximise its impact at a community level – with drops in participation an ongoing concern.
Key words: mental health, stress, cost of living, affordability, participation
The stressful demands from running grassroots sports clubs is threatening to drive young people out of taking part as the local heroes who give up their time to offer invaluable life chances feel the pinch, according to new research from Sported and smart security firm Ring
Key words: kit, boots, cost of living, affordability
What role do sports and physical activity has for the self-confidence and self-esteem of children and young people?
This sport looks into the impact that financial barriers surrounding kit may have on participation in sports/physical activities – with an understanding of support community groups need with solutions to mitigate the barriers and prevent negative impacts of lack of kit.
This research project was commissioned by Cif, one of the UK’s much-loved household cleaning brands. The aim is to provide insights for its Re-Kicks campaign, a nationwide initiative that is collecting second-hand, unused football boots and re-distributing them to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across the UK.
Key words: sport for development, cost of living, disengaged from sport
The research once again underlines their critical importance in deploying sport and physical activity to actively transform their lives and address societal issues with locally-driven solutions.
But it also highlights how cost of living rises are putting significant pressures on these clubs and organisations with a sector that is often excluded from traditional funding streams, relying instead on backing from charities like ourselves.
And the insight underlines how squeezes in disposable income are threatening to freeze out young people from this difference-making source of help with evidence already of significant disengagement and reductions in participation, exacerbating the financial jeopardy in play within grassroots sport.
Key words: cost of living, facilities, survey
Cost of living pressures, including elevated energy, facility and insurance costs, are putting the future of many grassroots sports clubs at risk – and threatening to freeze young people out of participation, the spring 2023 edition of the Sported / Ring Community Pulse survey found.
It found that over nine in ten were “extremely or fairly concerned” about the impact of increased costs on their operations.
49 per cent say they have been hit by a significant rise in energy bills over the past six months, 48% are coping with increases in other utility bills, and 41% with a reduction in financial support.
With 51% of the clubs and organisations responding operating in the 30% most deprived areas of the country – and most run and operated by volunteers – the current challenges in play threaten the infrastructure that gives young people an opportunity to be active and to address many of society’s pressing issues such as mental health and crime prevention.
Key words: cost of living, facilities, survey
In light of the cost-of-living crisis, we asked our members about the financial challenges around their access to facilities and how they are responding.
Our members reported rising facility costs over the past six months, and predicted further increases in the next six months. In response to these increasing costs, our groups are already looking for additional funding, subsiding sessions, and – worryingly – using their existing financial reserves.
Facing additional cost increases in the next six months, our members said they may have to increase costs for their participants in the future. This is especially troubling, as a significant proportion of groups told us up to half their young people already struggle to afford taking part.
Key words: community groups, survey, COVID-19
Our bi-annual survey telling us how community sports groups in the Sported network are feeling and experiencing.
The major concerns that groups and group leaders are experiencing are connected to the cost of living and challenges connected to the mental health of young people.
Groups also highlighted that they are most comfortable with tackling inequalities around women and girls in grassroots sport, and least in tackling issues relating to the LGBTQ+ community.
Key words: cycling, focus groups, interviews, young people
Key words: community groups, facilities, community assets
This research was carried out through desk research and in-depth interviews with 12 group leaders from the Sported network.
