Sport has the power to bring people together from all backgrounds and walks of life, as players, spectators and volunteers. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle has huge social and economic benefits to society. Sports development organisations play a big role building bridges to help people start or maintain activity levels. The Park Run team have shown how to get people off the sofa and start running by making the challenge seem realistic (5K) and the opportunity to participate locally achievable with no hidden costs. https://www.parkrun.org.uk
A recent Sport England survey shows that as Primary School children go through the age groups they become less active? Why and what can be done to help? https://www.sportengland.org
Role models for young people are really important and service providers have to work hard to be a positive first introduction to sport for schools without a sports figurehead or advocate. There is also a disconnect between curricular and extra curricular activity with social enterprises contesting against one another.
What opportunities are there to support participation?
The opportunity currently exists create pathways that allow children to move from extra curricular activity to funded ad hoc activities. One potential area is re-direction to local sports clubs where fees should be easier for families on low incomes. If the local sports clubs system developed a regulated funding channel or bursaries this would be greatly welcomed by families with school aged children. The positive environment created by grass roots club organisers and the volunteering opportunities provides a great opportunity for parents and children to step in to sport.
What are the benefits of positive social impact through sports activities?
The economic impacts of improved community engagement are well known and build positive levels of social trust, which is measurable. Improved physical well being, mental well being, individual development and economic development can all be associated to social impact through sport. Clubs and funding agencies can help to continue children’s sporting journey beyond Primary School. Looking at the statistics from last year, action needs to taken to increase the decline in activity levels.
How can outreach programs effectively reach communities?
In short? Digital. All school age children have access to a PC at school and most have their own phones by the age of 7. Outreach programs for approved status clubs with links to schools looking to form relationships with parents could ease parental worries. The development of a “google” for all sports clubs, schemes and social impact schemes that are affordable for families managing budgets could help drive activity levels.
What can sports service providers do to engage more communities?
Golf Now use a sales model which helps golfers connect to availability at facilities during off peak times. This model could be really impactful if it were developed for local authority facilities from a digital perspective use sports halls, gyms, squash, tennis, basketball, volleyball and gymnastics and dance availability to secondary school age children. Great opportunity to engage want to be APP builders to reach new footfall by selling facilities during down times. https://www.golfnow.co.uk
How can local transport help get people to places?
Free sport passes from local points for parents and children on “active days” would be a welcome relief. Buddy up schemes, encouraging safe travel with friends and reduced weekend fares for children who can confirm they are travelling to a sports venue / club to be active? Another digital ticket opportunity, and helps the traceability of regional take up to understand and evaluate programs to reach more communities with active messaging.
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