Sports Project Research

As part of the project, Homeless Link have commissioned Groundswell to conduct research alongside our work and support to agencies offering sport. Their findings and reports will be posted here and can be used to inform your sports projects and funding applications.

Year 2 Good Practice Report: As with year 1, Groundswell have identified good practice in sports projects in the homelessness sector with the benefit of an additional year of research. The report includes recommendations informed by the observations they have made and their experience in the sector.

Year 1 Good Practice Report: Having run focus groups, visited projects and events as well as one to one interviews with staff and participants, Groundswell have begun to identify key areas of good practice and work in the sector. They have included recommendations that can easily be implemented in homelessness and sport projects nationally.

Focus Groups Report: Feedback from Focus Groups conducted around England with three services at different stages of sports delivery. Client responses are used to create a picture of the current state of sports provision and the challenges that individuals experiencing homelessness face.

Event Analysis - Football Tournament: Event analysis is a report compiled by Groundswell's researcher after their attendance at a football competition for homelessness services. They have put together a practical resource that makes recommendations on how these events can be planned and run with this client group in mind.

Event Analysis - The Homeless Games 2011: This is the second event that Groundswell's Peer Research team have attended. The Homeless Games was started in 2010 as a multi-sports two day event for clients in Merseyside. It expanded to the North West region in 2011 and in 2012 aims to offer opportunities for clients from across England to take part.

Homeless Women & Sports Report: In 2011 the Aiming High: Sport for All project hoped to identify ways to better engage and support homeless women through sport. This report is the result of three focus groups and the project studies conducted through Years one and two of the project.

Case Studies: Over the course of the three years, Groundswell will be following three individuals who are participating in sport through their service(s).
Individual Case Studies - Year 1
Individual Case Studies - Year 2

Project Studies - Year 1: Three projects were reviewed by Groundswell and their findings and recommendations are found here.

1. Crewe YMCA
2. King George's
3. Streets Revolution.

Liverpool Project Study - Year 2: As a follow up to their first visit in 2010, Groundswell visited with services in Liverpool and spoke with staff and clients with varying levels of involvement in sport (or none at all). Of particular interest are findings from a focus group with female clients and the recommendations that were made with regard to engaging homeless women in sport and physical activity.