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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
