Sport for social cohesion : exploring impacts and influences

Katherine Raw, Emma Sherry, Katie Rowe

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paper

Abstract

![CDATA[Physical activity and sport are increasingly being recognised as vehicles for achieving a wide range of social development goals internationally (Schulenkorf, Sherry, & Rowe, 2016). Within the field of sport for development (SFD), one line of research enquiry relates to how sport initiatives can be used to enhance social networks (Levermore & Beacom, 2009; O’Driscoll, Banting, Borkoles, Eime, & Polman, 2014), social capital (Spaaij, 2012; Welty Peachey, Cohen, Borland, & Lyras, 2011), and social cohesion (Coalter, 2010; O’Driscoll et al., 2014; UN, 2003). Over the last decade, the growth in SFD activities has been paralleled by academic interest across a wide range of disciplines and thematic areas. The extent to which each of these areas has been examined varies, for example, education has been more frequently represented in the literature as opposed to gender (Schulenkorf et al., 2016). Deficiencies have particularly been noted with regards to research focusing on the issue of social cohesion (Cubizolles, 2015; Kidd, 2011). Kidd (2011), hypothesised that such deficiencies might exist due to the fact that programs that “follow an evidence-based logic model of development…and social cohesion, with appropriate community engagement, monitoring and evaluation, constitute a tiny fraction of programmes overall” (p. 604). In summary, SFD interventions aiming to enrich social cohesion are among the least understood and hold the greatest scope for future research (Cubizolles, 2015; Kidd, 2011). This research aims to address this gap in the literature through the investigation of a SFD program focused on social cohesion. To explore this issue, the chosen SFD context was ‘The Huddle’, a non-profit organisation which employs a variety of targeted programs with the aim of increasing social cohesion among culturally and linguistically diverse and refugee youth populations in Melbourne’s inner North West. Founded in 2010 within the North Melbourne Football Club (NMFC) headquarters, The Huddle was developed as a joint initiative of the NMFC, the Scanlon Foundation and the Australian Multicultural Foundation. A qualitative method was employed and data was gathered through semi-structured interviews. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and both inductive and deductive processes were used to analyse the data. Staff and stakeholders (n=19), as well as youth participants (n=20) and parents (n=5) involved with The Huddle in 2015 and 2016, shared their views regarding the initiative. Participants reported that benefits provided by The Huddle programs linked to social cohesion were: belonging, trust and inclusion. The socio-environmental factors thought to positively influence these outcomes included: networks and stability. However, results also suggested that some components of The Huddle could be improved, including ongoing engagement. The results of this study will be used to guide the creation of a survey instrument to further examine social cohesion. In addition, study findings will assist the development and expansion of The Huddle and thereby encourage better quality experiences for youth and future SFD programs.]]
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBook of Abstracts: SMAANZ Conference 2016, 23 - 25 November 2016, Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand)
PublisherAuckland University of Technology
Pages44-44
Number of pages1
Publication statusPublished - 2016
EventSport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand. Conference -
Duration: 1 Jan 2017 → …

Conference

ConferenceSport Management Association of Australia and New Zealand. Conference
Period1/01/17 → …

Keywords

  • sports
  • children
  • teenagers
  • social learning
  • social integration
  • interpersonal relations
  • Australian football

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