Sport for social cohesion : longitudinal impacts and challenges

![CDATA[Aim of the research This study aims to explore impacts and challenges associated with a sport for development (SFD) program targeting social cohesion. Methodology, research design, and data analysis The SFD context selected for this PhD research project, was an Australian-based initiative known as ‘The Huddle’. This non-profit, non-governmental organisation was founded in 2010 in partnership with an Australian Rules Football Club (North Melbourne), the Scanlon Foundation, and the Australian Multicultural Foundation. Since its inception, The Huddle has employed a range of targeted sport and non-sport programs with the aim of developing social cohesion among refugee and culturally and linguistically diverse and youth in Melbourne’s inner North-West. Over a two year period, the PhD researcher conducted an ethnographic enquiry whilst embedded within the organisation. During this time, youth (n = 26), staff, stakeholders and volunteers (n = 27) of The Huddle shared their views and experiences of the initiative via one-on-one interviews. The combination of preliminary interviews, follow up interviews and additional interviews with individuals new to the program culminated in a total of 71 interviews. Data were also collected in the form of 93 pages of written research observations and 86 organisational documents provided to the researcher by staff. Data analysis involved both inductive and deductive thematic coding methods facilitated by the NVivo 10 qualitative analysis software program. Themes were coded initially by one researcher and then quality checked by the broader research team to complete the coding process. Results, discussion, and implications/conclusions Participants described how The Huddle’s programs helped facilitate a number of positive outcomes, including: belonging, support and social networks. However, participants also reported some difficult experiences, such as: staff moving on from programs and a lack of communication. Staff also indicated that cultural imbalances among youth and organisational instability also proved challenging for the program. The results from this study have helped guide the development of The Huddle and therefore encourage positive experiences for youth, volunteers, staff, and stakeholders of the initiative. Furthermore, this research will also help address the lack empirical evidence at the intersection of SFD and social cohesion, and thereby also assist in the conceptualisation of social cohesion within the field of SFD.]]