Sport, parks and leisure - Sports projects 'profoundly affected' by COVID-19 – with vulnerable people hit the hardest...
25 Apr 2024 Sport, parks, & leisure: daily news and jobs
 
 
HOME
JOBS
NEWS
FEATURES
PRODUCTS
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
PRINT SUBSCRIPTION
ADVERTISE
CONTACT US
Sign up for FREE ezine
Latest news

28 Jul 2020

Sports projects 'profoundly affected' by COVID-19 – with vulnerable people hit the hardest
BY Tom Walker

The disappearance of sports during lockdown has contributed to a lack of structure and support in young people’s lives

The disappearance of sports during lockdown has contributed to a lack of structure and support in young people’s lives
photo: Shutterstock/maradon 333

The COVID-19 pandemic is having “a profound effect” on community sports projects and organisations in the UK, according to a report published by The Sport for Development Coalition (SFDC).

According to the report, the pandemic's negative effects on the sector vary from reduced funding and forced reductions in delivery models to increased challenges in engaging participants.

Called Impact of Covid-19 on the Sport for Development sector, the report has been released in response to a DCMS Committee, which is currently undertaking an inquiry into the pandemic's consequences on physical activity.

The report outlines how the impact on sport has caused a knock-on effect on the thousands of people that the sector serves.

In particular, the report offers examples of how a lack of organised sport has had a negative impact on some of the most vulnerable people in society.

These include the lack of structure and support in young people’s lives, with Football Beyond Borders reporting that participants in its programme “are struggling with a lack of routine – with some boys waking up at 5pm after playing PS4 until 8am”.

The increased sense of isolation that many young people have experienced is also a concern, as is the disappearance of routines provided by sporting organisations.

In the report, the rugby-focused charity School of Hard Knocks says that young people "need consistency, so to lose that nurturing and mentoring element is a huge blow”.

The report also reveals the impact of the pandemic on delivery organisations themselves.

Charity StreetGames estimates that up to a third of the ‘Locally Trusted Organisations’ in its network have stopped operations and furloughed all staff.

Worryingly, another charity, Sported, reported that one in four community groups were not sure if they would exist in six months’ time.

"We want the report to be a wake-up call to what could be lost if the sector isn’t supported soon," said SFDC chair Andy Reed.

"These organisations work with some of the most deprived communities and they have been hit hardest.

"There is a real need to get these back and on a sound financial footing as soon as possible.”

• To read the full Impact of Covid-19 on the Sport for Development sector report, click here.



Connect with
Sport Parks Leisure
Magazine:
View issue contents
Sign up:
Instant Alerts/zines

Print edition
 

News headlines
Immediate rewards can motivate people to exercise, finds new research
Immediate rewards can motivate people to exercise, finds new research   24 Apr 2024

Short-term incentives to exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead to sustained increases in activity, according to new .... more>>
Mytime Active calls a halt to dumping 432,000 pairs of plastic overshoes into landfill each year
Mytime Active calls a halt to dumping 432,000 pairs of plastic overshoes into landfill each year   21 Apr 2024

Charitable trust, Mytime Active, has removed all single-use plastic overshoes from its swimming pools and leisure centres, as part of ongoing .... more>>
Workers' Educational Association and CLUK team up to launch Carbon Literacy Course
Workers' Educational Association and CLUK team up to launch Carbon Literacy Course   21 Apr 2024

Community Leisure UK is helping the drive to Net Zero with the launch of a bespoke carbon literacy course. Offered in partnership with the Workers' .... more>>
Circadian Trust invests in wellness to support its NHS partnerships
Circadian Trust invests in wellness to support its NHS partnerships   20 Apr 2024

Operator Circadian Trust has launched a five-year growth drive designed to support health and wellbeing across South Gloucestershire, UK. The .... more>>
US named world’s largest wellness economy, reaching US$1.8 trillion valuation
US named world’s largest wellness economy, reaching US$1.8 trillion valuation   18 Apr 2024

The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) has released new data on the US’ wellness economy, valuing it at US$1.8 trillion. According to the .... more>>
Company profile


IndigoFitness

We Create Training Spaces! We've been designing and delivering high quality training spaces for almost 30 years, offering expert advice on everything from flooring types, to equipment mix, to the best utilisation of space.

View full profile>>

Catalogue gallery


Featured Supplier

Webinar: Building a new energy future for the leisure sector

Webinar: Building a new energy future for the leisure sector

As one of the most energy-intensive industries in the UK, leisure facilities face a critical challenge in balancing net zero goals, funding and increased costs. More>>




in this issue

• Virgin gets right to wipe out rent arrears
• Fitness industry mourns passing of Jan Spaticchia
• STA offers mindfulness resources



Latest jobs

Jobs Search



Fitness Motivator and Personal Trainer
Location: Market Rasen
Company: Everyone Active
Recreation Assistant (Dry Site)
Salary: Competitive
Location: Market Rasen
Company: Everyone Active
Party Leader
Salary: Competitive
Location: Gainsborough
Company: Everyone Active
Diary dates
Powered by leisurediary.com

23-25 Apr 2024

ISPA Conference 2024

Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, United States







Published by Leisure Media Tel: +44 (0)1462 431385 | Contact us | About us | © Cybertrek Ltd