Our Insight

Surviving a Pandemic: Community sports groups and COVID-19, March 2021

Key words: COVID 19, community groups, survival, support needs, adaptability, survey, longitudinal

Sported launched a series of surveys and focus groups to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on community sports groups. Over 900 responses were completed along with focus groups with 18 community sports groups. The findings reported that groups experienced 3 key phases during the restrictions: Emergency, Refocus and New Normal. On the back of this research, Sported calls for more essential support for community sport groups as they face new challenges surrounding financial support, re-engaging their young participants and support with mental health for the group and young people.

Community Pulse during Covid-19 lockdown, February 2021

Key words: COVID 19, community groups, survival, support needs, adaptability, survey

Between January and February 2021, Sported asked members to complete an online survey to highlight their concerns about the future of their organisation and the type of support they needed going forward. With 160 responses, our members highlighted their worries surrounding finance and funding, as well as engaging their young participants after such a long time apart.

Does grant funding exclude those it is designed to help?
January 2021

From first-hand accounts of Sported members in England, this report explores the hypothesis that grant funding is designed in such a way that excludes the groups it is aimed at, with a focus on grant funding for reducing inequalities for ‘less well-off’ participants and BAME participants.

Impact of Covid-19,
December 2020

Key words: COVID-19, challenges, needs and solutions, focus group, qualitative research

In December 2020 we conducted the third round of focus group consultations as part of our 3-part series, exploring the needs and challenges of community sport groups during the pandemic. Our research, which enabled us to hear directly from members operating in England and Scotland, highlights the impact on young peoples’ mental health, as well as how the situation is affecting groups’ current operations and plans for the future.

Tackling racism at the grassroots,
October 2020

Key words: Grassroots, racism, equality, research community groups, survival, support needs, adaptability, survey

Black, Asian and minority ethnic people working or volunteering in community sport can feel “patronised and poorly represented” within the grassroots and community sport sector, according to new research published by Sported.

Impact of COVID-19, UK, July 2020

Key words: COVID-19, challenges, needs and solutions, focus groups, qualitative research

In this second round of our 3-part series, seven of our members in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland shared their needs and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research highlighted two new challenges, Planning and Education, calling for solutions to include better support and the ability to know key dates from reopening.

Implications of Covid-19 lockdown on long term recovery of Sported members who deliver activities for young disabled people in England,
May 2020

Key words: Grassroots, COVID-19

Using survey data from a ‘Community Pulse’ online survey and more in-depth feedback from 16 groups who provide sport or physical activity for disabled participants, Sported identify seven areas in which our member’s are concerned.

Impact of COVID-19, UK, May 2020

Key words: COVID-19, challenges, needs and solutions, focus groups, qualitative research

Supported by a highly skilled Sported volunteer, in May 2020 Sported conducted focus group consultations, to explore our findings from ‘Community Pulse’ in more detail. The nine participating groups were based across the UK and used a range of sports to help young people overcome challenges. The consultation explored the impact COVID-19 has had on their participants. It went on to identify challenges and solutions for community group’s in response to COVID-19, reflect on how COVID-19 has changed how they view their organisations, as well as gather feedback for Sported and the wider community sport sector.

Community Pulse during Covid-19 Lockdown, UK, June 2020

Key words: COVID 19, community groups, survival, support needs, adaptability, survey

Between March and June 2020 Sported conducted almost 800 consultation surveys with community groups in our network, to explore how they were coping regarding COVID-19. Surveys were conducted online and by-phone. In the initial ‘emergency’ phase, groups main concerns were managing finances and reaching vulnerable people. As things developed, groups wanted support adapting to virtual delivery and in getting back to physical delivery. Groups were also remarkably adaptable, directly supporting vulnerable people and protecting them from COVID-19.

An evaluation of the impacts and challenges of community sport groups becoming more inclusive and accessible for girls, UK, April 2020

Key words: women and girls, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, research

Authored by Dr Lucy Piggott and Professor Elizabeth Pike from University of Hertfordshire, this research looks at whether being inclusive of society’s under-represented groups is helpful in becoming an effective and sustainable community sport organisation.

Young people’s voices, Wales, 2019

Key words: Wales, young people, community groups, motivations, local challenges, focus groups, interviews

Towards the end of 2019 we conducted a consultation with young people in Wales. Paired interviews and focus groups were conducted in small groups; participants ranged between age ten and 20. The consultation explored challenges they face in their local area, motivations for joining a youth group and what makes a youth group more successful.

In Sport we Trust, UK, October 2019

Key words: national data, community sport, sports club membership, trust, social cohesion, Lower Socio-economic groups, demographics, multi-variate analysisK

In-depth piece looking at the impact of community sport groups on young people, community development and social cohesion. Being part of a sports club or group increased young people’s levels of trust. In addition, this relationship (between sports club membership and trust) is stronger for people from LSEG groups compared to HSEG Groups.

Project 51, England and Scotland, 2019

Key words: Community groups, Sport for Development Outcomes, locally driven, distributional analysis, chi-squared test

Groups received support from Sported and Women in Sport in engaging young girls in sport and physical activity. Research of young girls (11-18) identified a reduction in gendered views; shift from girls thinking certain roles (e.g. ‘washing kit’, ‘umpire/referee’ ‘being a boss’) are gendered to ‘men and women equally’ able. Also identified higher aspirations (achieving goals, working hard etc.) and more positive perceptions of themselves.

Bottom Up Solutions, UK, 2019

Key words: community groups, Women and girls, gender bias, gender roles, barriers for young girls

Sported conducted a short internal piece to explore trends in our membership in terms of social outcomes they address. Groups that use boxing (and those based in Y&H, EM & NW) more likely to address crime and anti-social behaviour. Groups that use cricket (and those based in NI) more likely to address community cohesion. Groups in Scotland more likely to address health and well-being. Implies groups respond to local need, and that certain activities more suitable for addressing certain outcomes.

Why Groups Dissolve, UK, 2019

Key words: thought leadership series, community sport, survival, resources, Index of Multiple Deprivation, distributional analysis

Sported conducted a short internal piece to explore whether certain characteristics of community groups mean they are more likely to dissolve (comparing existing Sported members with dissolved members.) Identified risk factors (of dissolving) are being in bottom 10% IMD areas, having income lower than £5k, having fewer staff and volunteers.

Capacity Building in Community Sport: Underappreciated but essential, UK, September 2018

Key words: thought leadership series, organisational capacity, sustainability

54% of people are concerned that their community sports club would struggle to stay running over the long-term, without support from external organisations. In this short report, we discuss the importance of building organisational capacity to improve the strength and sustainability of the community sport system.

Reducing Youth Violence: The role of community sport, UK, August 2018

Key words: thought leadership series, crime and ASB

Drawing on the insight and experience of Sported’s members, this short report aimed to highlight the importance of community groups in reducing youth violence and promote further support to sustain this vital work.

Sporteducate, London, 2017

Key words: education, attainment, Sport for Development

Programme designed to help young people (10 -18) from disadvantaged backgrounds, through education, sport and mentoring, to stay in school, training or employment. The evaluation found an improvement in the 6 outcomes; 1. Attitude to learning 2. Attendance at school, college, training or work 3. Aptitude and employment 4. Academic achievement 5. Aspirations for the future 6. Self-esteem & confidence.

Bridging the Gap: A Blueprint for Engagement, England, April 2017

Key works: engagement, low socio-economic areas, community sport structures

Sport England partnered with us in 2015 on a 2-year action research project that aimed to draw out some of the lessons we’ve learnt from supporting groups in operating in high levels of deprivation, summarise useful tips on how to work effectively in these neighbourhoods, and share them with agencies and organisations wishing to make a greater contribution using the power of sport and activity.

Sportworks, UK, 2013

Key words: community sport, Social Return on Investment, cost saving, Substance

Sported commissioned social research specialists Substance to deliver a comprehensive piece of research, creating the business case for investing in sports for development work for disadvantaged young people in the UK. In response to Sported’s requirements, a new approach was been developed that represented the first ever attempt to assess the impact and value of the sport for development sector as a whole.

Our insight

Surviving a Pandemic: Community sports groups and COVID-19, March 2021

Community Pulse during Covid-19 lockdown, February 2021