Sport and Social Justice: if not now, when?

UK Sport Development Network (UKSDN) Conference - 7th/8th September 2022

In September 2022, Leeds Beckett marks the 25^th anniversary of introducing sport development as an academic discipline. We are proud to have contributed to the sphere of sport development and excited to host the next edition of the UK Sports Development Network conference on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th September 2022.

Social justice is about making society function better and providing the support and tools to help turn lives around; what role does the sport and physical activity sector have to play in this? The late 1970’s saw the launch of the Sport Council’s first campaign: “Sport for All’ and subsequently the birth of Sport Development. Over 40 years on, despite a substantial investment of public funding into sport and numerous campaigns aiming to bring about social justice through sport, the figures suggest that these disparities persist.

Fast forward, to the acute issues emanating from Covid-19, the pandemic has added its weight to further imbalance opportunities in sport and physical activity settings. The government have since introduced the Levelling Up White Paper building on domestic policy agendas and international policy agendas (such as, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals). The Levelling Up agenda is looking to “transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it” and it is essential to consider this offer through a critical lens and thinking through immediate needs and long-term visions

Our online convention in September 2021 started off crucial conversations regarding the current inequalities present within sport and indeed society. Presentations from leading academics and practitioners from the field helped fuel these conversations in the following areas: Sport and Poverty, Sport and Climate Change, Sport and Racial Inequalities and Sport and Long-Term Health Conditions. As promised back then, we want to keep moving forward with these important discussions through this 2 day conference. Again, we must ask ourselves: Are we on a precipice of making things better, or allowing things to get worse?

More than ever as a sector, we must bring about change. Now is the time.

Critical thinking. Critical Action. Thought and action require collaboration. The event will bring together sport development practitioners and academics and provide a space for attendees to address a number issues and areas.

The purpose of this event is to offer an inclusive space for people to contribute their experiences, reflections, and projects, in both practical and academic manner. We encourage those looking for continuing professional development opportunities, students and early career researchers looking to present for the first time or with their developing ideas, and established researchers and practitioners to share and showcase their work. 

Speakers from industry and academia will present across the 2 days with a view to generating debate and discussion with an engaged audience. The 2 days will consist of:

• 2 keynote panels based on the critical conversations we developed in last year’s online convention
• At least 4 sessions for contributors to present their work and others to listen and ask questions
• Networking and social time and space
• Opportunities for further collaboration and outputs
• Refreshments, parking, and facilities at the Leeds Beckett Carnegie School of Sport complex

The event and contributions will be broken down in to four key areas:

1. Developing the workforce

Examples of research/projects from traditional and non-traditional sport and physical activity settings, that aim to address how we develop a workforce that strives to achieve social justice through sport. How do we create a vibrant workforce that is more inclusive, relevant, representative of the communities they are working with. How do we develop a workforce that is more innovative, diverse, and creative than ever before?

2. Strengthening communities

Examples of research/projects from traditional and non-traditional sport and physical activity settings, that address or aim to address how sport can be a key component in connecting and strengthening communities. We are particularly interested in hearing about research/projects that meaningfully include the community that they are trying to reach with the development and execution of the research/project. Additionally, we would like to hear from researchers and practitioners that have utilised sport and physical activity to reduce the impact of poverty on certain communities.

3. Connecting with health and wellbeing

Examples of research/projects from sport and non-sport settings that address or aim to address how a variety of health and/or wellbeing outcomes can be achieved through or in sport and physical activity. We are particularly interested in hearing about research/projects that include long term health conditions, mental health, and programmes that look at health and wellbeing outcomes beyond participation, such as volunteer wellbeing.

4. Planning and placemaking

Examples of research/projects from across the UK where a geographical element has played a role in the design, delivery and/evaluation aspects. We are particularly interested in hearing about activities interconnecting climate change and the environment as part of their planning and practices.

Our key areas are informed by the current priorities set out in the varying publications at national level, including UK Government, Sport Wales, sportscotland, Sport England, and Sport Northern Ireland.

Price points:

Employed - £195 (higher education organisations, medium to large charity or public organisations and commercial organisations)

Concessions £115 (students, small charities and unfunded individuals)

*If the price points are a barrier to your ability to attend this event, then requests for further reductions based on individual circumstances will be considered, please contact l.morby@leedsbeckett.ac.uk for further information

Once tickets are confirmed then we will be back in contact about options for accommodation and places where we have preferential rates.