Key information
Decision type: Assistant Director
Reference code: ADD2124
Date signed:
Decision by: Amanda Coyle, Interim Assistant Director, Health and Communities
Executive summary
The GLA Sports team is developing a new community sport strategy and investment programme (Sport Unites) that will have social integration at its heart. To enable and inform the development of Sports Unites, the Sports Team is requesting £20,000 to fund research that will underpin the development of the programme.
Decision
This ADD requests that that the Assistant Director of Health and Communities approves Sport for Social Integration research: up to £20,000.
Part 1: Non-confidential facts and advice
• Sport for Social Integration research: up to £20,000
Social Integration is a major priority for the Mayor. The GLA Sports team is developing a new investment programme for community sport in London (Sport Unites) which will have social integration at its heart. Because social integration is a completely new area of work for the GLA, additional resources are required to ensure that the programme is designed on the basis of solid evidence, and draws on international best practice.
The purpose of the research is to understand the key elements of successful sport for social integration initiatives to inform the development of the Mayor’s new Sport Unites investment programme. The research will:
• Summarise the existing research on this subject, and outline the leading academic theories and frameworks that underpin sport for social integration initiatives across the world – particularly in cities;
• Identify and describe 8-10 initiatives (a blend of projects and programmes) that have taken place or are taking place in the UK and internationally using sport to deliver social integration outcomes;
• Analyse each of the initiatives to identify: the social integration outcomes they are working towards; how they measure social integration; what makes them successful; and the lessons that have been learned from each.
The development of the Sport Unites programme will take account of the GLA’s new equalities strategy and framework, and the consultation process will ensure that stakeholders and individuals that represent the diversity of London’s population have a chance to shape the programme.
Data from Sport England’s Active People survey shows that levels of participation in sport and physical activity are variable across different socio-demographic groups in London. Across all 33 London Boroughs, average figures indicate that 43% of men participate in sport at least once a week compared to 32% of women. 37% of Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME) people participate weekly compared to 39% of people of white origin. 19% of disabled people participate weekly compared to 40% of non-disabled people. 17% of people over the age of 65 participate weekly compared to 52% of those between the age of 16 and 25. 41% of people from socio-economic groups 1 to 4 participate weekly compared to 25% of people from socio-economic groups 5-8 (based on the National Statistics Socio-economic classification system).
Whilst social integration will be a key priority for the Sport Unites programme – the Sports Team will ensure that the Mayor’s funding impacts on groups and communities of Londoners that will benefit the most of opportunities to take part in physical activity. This includes: women, disabled people, BAME people, the elderly, and people from lower socio-economic groups. The sport strategy will also contribute to reducing health inequalities in London
5.1 The estimated cost of up to £20,000 will be funded from the Community Sports Programme budget for 2017-18 (held within the Health & Communities Unit).
N/A
Signed decision document
ADD2124 Sport Unies research for programme development (signed)