Launched in 2000, funded by the Home Office and managed by Crime Concern, Positive Futures operates through more than 100 projects across England and Wales. The research highlights the role of sport in social inclusion work. It describes how a clearly discernible vision gradually emerged through the various phases of development of the programme and it identifies the elements that are central to the process of using sport to aid personal and social development, covering: staff; styles of delivery; place and space; progression and pathways; and ethos and organisational culture. Organisational style and bureaucratisation are looked at and the authors argue that Positive Futures projects need a flexible mode of delivery.

Positive Futures was set up with the aim of having a positive influence on participants’ drug use, physical activity and offending behaviour. It hopes to widen horizons and access to lifestyle, educational and employment opportunities within a supportive environment. The research was initiated to monitor progress.

The study involved a two year programme of detailed qualitative research, focusing on six case study areas which reflected the diversity of organisational and delivery cultures within the wider Positive Futures programme.

The most successful sport-related programmes and projects are those which have clear and achievable aims and objectives. Although sport itself does have social value, this can only be fully realised with a social and personal developmental approach. Those projects which have embraced a range of sporting and non-sporting activities have had more success than those relying on sport alone. Positive Futures should be proactive in identifying delivery agencies, supporting them in the funding process and allocating resources. The most effective Positive Futures projects employ management teams with frontline experience of youth work who have a clear understanding of the contrasting nature of diversionary and developmental work. Monitoring and evaluation of projects needs qualitative as well as quantitative assessment. The setting up of an intermediate agency or network which sits between the national programme and delivery agencies is recommended.

Crime Concern
Phone: +44 1793 863500
info@crimeconcern.org.uk

01/11/2006

Tim Crabbe and others from the Sports Industries Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University

research

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Health