Building Stronger Communities report and playbook

Access Sport has been exploring how grassroots sport clubs can provide young people with a sense of belonging and strengthen communities.

Launched in July 2024, Building Stronger Communities emphasises that by prioritising community engagement and creating a sense of belonging, community sport clubs can maximise other wider social outcomes, including improved health, wellbeing and life prospects.

Carried out via a survey and interviews with community sports clubs in Bristol, London and Manchester, this report calls on the sport sector to reevaluate community sport clubs’ ability to strengthen underserved communities.

The report has these findings: 

1. Community sport challenges the traditional idea that communities are solely defined by place or locality 
2. Sense of belonging and community underpin the wider transformational benefits of sport
3. Clubs provide essential opportunities for young people to have positive and safe social interactions
4. Clubs have a positive impact on parents/guardians as they enable them to socially interact with one another
5. Sense of belonging extends beyond the boundaries of a community club.

The playbook lists features of an inclusive community sport club:

1. Know your participants
2. Be flexible and responsive when session planning
3. Focus on individual, incremental improvement in participants
4. Provide support for club volunteers
5. Integrate parents/guardians into the club

Find put more, read the report and playbook here