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Social inclusion through sports-based interventions?

Kelly, L.

Authors

L. Kelly



Abstract

There is international enthusiasm for the idea that sport can contribute to ‘social inclusion’ strategies. Sport now features in various targeted youth initiatives, including ‘Positive Futures’: a ‘sport and activity based social inclusion programme’ currently operating in England and Wales. The processes through which these ‘sports-based interventions’ might promote ‘social inclusion’ require, however, further investigation. Drawing on interviews with operational staff, managers, partners and participants, the article critically analyses the concept of ‘sports-based social inclusion’ with reference to four main themes: ‘sport for all’, ‘social cohesion’, ‘a pathway to work’ and ‘giving voice’. It argues that, while programmes achieve varying degrees of ‘success’ in relation to these themes, their impact on exclusionary processes is inevitably limited. Moreover, sports-based interventions risk legitimating a reductive analysis of these complex processes, highlighting individual deficits and de-emphasizing structural inequalities.

Citation

Kelly, L. (2011). Social inclusion through sports-based interventions?. Critical Social Policy, 31(1), 126-150. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018310385442

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Feb 1, 2011
Deposit Date Nov 4, 2010
Journal Critical Social Policy
Print ISSN 0261-0183
Electronic ISSN 1461-703X
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 31
Issue 1
Pages 126-150
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018310385442

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