This is a practical guide for councillors and officers looking to do more in the area of improving physical activity levels for children and young people from low incomes. It includes tips and case studies to support councils on their journey.
About the guide
It has been developed in partnership with StreetGames to help councils better understand the value Locally Trusted Organisations (LTOs) make to support children and young people from low-income neighbourhoods to be active through sport at a hyperlocal level. It explores the role of LTOs and identifies ways in which councils and LTOs can work together to support better each other and the communities they serve.
About the Commission on sport and low-income neighbourhoods
In 2020 Adrian Chiles, Charlie Webster and Brendon Batson OBE launched a Commission on sport and low-income neighbourhoods to examine how and why neighbourhood organisations use sport to mitigate against the health and social inequalities that disproportionately impact children and young people in disadvantaged areas across England and Wales. StreetGames acted as the Secretariat to the Commission.
The Commission shone a light on the importance of community-led sports provision and the positive role local neighbourhood community organisations play in supporting low-income areas to become happier, better networked, enriched and more active places to live.
The final report highlighted children and young people growing up in low-income neighbourhoods have lower rates of participation in sports and physical activity. Of this demographic:
Seventy-two per cent do not attain the Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity guidelines of one hour a day of enhanced physical activity.
Only 16 per cent are members of a sports club.
Just 14 per cent visit leisure centres.
It identified that the under-representation of low-income young people in the sports system is not due to personal choice but rather, a structural inadequacy in the sports system which results in the exclusion of low-income young people. Traditional sports provision is less accessible to low-income families because of the geography of opportunities, and the cost of sports clubs and gyms which also tend to market themselves to people in their image.
In addition, young people tend to prefer sociable sports which often require an organiser, kit, indoor space or marked-up outdoor space. In other words, sociable sports need organisation and resources which the sports system does not supply.
The report explored the important and significant impact Locally Trusted Organisations(LTOs) make in local communities to support children and young people to be active. It found that LTOs:
Enhance their neighbourhood by filling gaps created by the absence of an officially recognised sports system
give young people a chance to enjoy sport and physical activity in a safe, trusted environment in their neighbourhoods.
Reach young people who may not normally participate in sport, ensuring health and wellbeing benefits reach the most vulnerable and those who may be put off formal, competitive sport.
Provide positive role models and inspiration - staff or volunteers often have lived experiences of the issues faced by young people.
Provide positive pathways helping young people to gain skills and confidence. E.g. carrying out roles with responsibility in the LTO enabling access to education and training opportunities.
Support families by providing accessible play provision and childcare, reducing pressure on household budgets, and enabling parents to work - this is particularly important during school holidays.
Have an in-depth understanding of the local area meaning they can tailor provision to what communities need and want – as opposed to what commissioners or funders may think is important.
Often provide support that is greater than the contract and is more of a ‘holistic’ service to communities supporting young people outside of sessions and providing value for money by leveraging other resources, such as donations, volunteering, and other community support.
Despite the excellent work of LTOs, they face significant challenges including:
Operating in a near-permanent state of financial precarity, where coaches and volunteers must redirect their time towards lengthy grant-writing processes and fundraising activities instead of being able to focus on supporting the young people who rely upon them.
insufficient funding and the short-term nature of current funding models reduce their impact and ability to plan for the long term; the impact of COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis is putting LTOs at increased risk of financial failure.
Overly prescriptive or ‘top-down’ stipulations from funders can result in only allowing certain ages or people from particular postcodes to attend or limiting the amount of time people can attend; this runs counter to the approach that works best for young people in disadvantaged communities which is long-term, inclusive support in a consistent, safe place and co-produced with the community.
The commission made several recommendations to funders, governing bodies and policymakers, including to “recognise, articulate, and advocate the power of LTOs to reactivate and change narratives around neighbourhoods.” This guide aims to support councils to better understand the role and contribution of LTOs and how councils and LTOs can work together to better support children and young people.
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