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VIP - Sport for Inclusion: Developing Community-Led Sport and Physical Activity Opportunities

VIPs create sustainable, research-engaged communities of staff and students - both undergraduate and postgraduate - who work collaboratively on live projects.

This Vertically Integrated Project (VIP) will support Bath City Foundation and its partners in the ongoing development, delivery, understanding and evaluation of sport and physical activity opportunities that promote inclusion, wellbeing and social integration among refugee and Muslim communities in Bath and North East Somerset. The project will bring together students to work alongside Bath City Foundation and partner organisations. Students will contribute to different aspects of the project according to their level of study, disciplinary expertise and mode of engagement. The VIP will provide a shared applied context through which students can: Investigate community needs and experiences; Examine how community sport programmes create change; Explore participant experiences and outcomes; Support programme delivery and community engagement; Develop evidence-informed recommendations for practice; Strengthen partnership working; Support leadership and volunteer development pathways and; Contribute to organisational learning and development. The project will focus on the refugee and Muslim community programme initially, while retaining sufficient flexibility to adapt to emerging organisational priorities throughout the duration of the VIP.

The project aims to contribute towards: Increased participation in sport and physical activity; Improved confidence and self-esteem; Greater sense of belonging; Increased community participation and engagement; Development of leadership and volunteering opportunities and; Enhanced social integration and community cohesion.

This project investigates how community-led sport and physical activity initiatives can promote inclusion, wellbeing, belonging and social integration among refugee and Muslim communities. Drawing upon community sport development, sport-for-development and social inclusion frameworks, the project seeks to understand the mechanisms through which participation creates individual, community and organisational change, while identifying the conditions that enable sustainable and inclusive practice.

Sustainable Development Goals

SDGs: 3 Good Health and Wellbeing. 10 Reduced Inequalities.

Academic Director

Lucy Noble, Department for Health

Who can apply?

This VIP welcomes applications from all University of Bath students.

Project Updates

This is a new project for Sem 1 AY2627

Project Partners

Bath City FC Community Foundation (existing) & Bath Spa Uni (potential)

Applying for a VIP

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