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Month: November 2023

Sport Unites: Fresh Start Through Sport sees cross-community bonding

Posted on by DOJ Team

The latest evaluation report on the Department for Communities’ (DfC) led Fresh Start Through Sport programme reveals wide-ranging benefits from its unique multi-sport approach. Funded by the NI Executive’s Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime programme, the initiative engages marginalised young people using football, rugby, gaelic games and ice hockey.

Among 98 participants in 2022-23, 45% were female, a large and positive increase in previous years. Surveys showed almost all participants gained new skills and knowledge, with many keen to volunteer after completing the 12-week programme. Qualitative data highlighted the value participants placed on novel experiences like wheelchair hurling, as well as improved empathy and relationships.

 

A key impact was unity across community divides. Trying sports like gaelic games helped participants from Protestant/Unionist backgrounds overcome preconceptions. The programme also brought positive interactions between youth and police. PSNI officers attended sessions, building trust and relationships through shared activities.

 

Participant satisfaction was extremely high. Facilitators received consistent praise for their engaging approach. Recommendations from the evaluation include exploring mental health topics, balancing input across sports, and further involving programme “Ambassadors” in co-design.

 

With evidence of life-changing impacts for some participants, Fresh Start Through Sport continues to foster cross-community bonds. Its collaborative ethos promotes inclusive environments that steer vulnerable young people towards brighter futures.

 

To read the report, please click on the link below.

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Positive impacts found in the evaluation of DfC’s Fresh Start Through Sport Programme

Posted on by DOJ Team

An evaluation by Ulster University highlights the successes of the Department for Communities (DfC) Fresh Start Through Sport programme in 2021-22. Funded by the NI Executive’s Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme and delivered by the Irish Football Association, Ulster Rugby, Ulster GAA and the Belfast Giants, the programme uses sport to engage young people identified as potentially vulnerable to paramilitary or criminal exploitation.

 

The return to in-person delivery enabled facilitators to build mentoring relationships with participants. A key benefit was challenging expectations – participants from different cultural backgrounds had never had the opportunities to try different sports and very few from any background had ever had the chance to try ice hocky.  This helped break down barriers and increased connections between participants.

 

For some participants, Fresh Start Through Sport represented a major positive turning point. One shared: “I had stopped drinking…this is mad…it was all down to the programme.” Many gained knowledge, skills and aspirations for the future.

 

This evaluation also helpfully highlighted some ongoing challenges around engagement and facility access logistics. But overall, participants gave the experience an average rating of 9.3 out of 10. The new Ambassador programme also aids sustainability, offering graduates a chance to stay involved.

 

Recommendations from the evaluation include further developing referral and recruitment processes, more background information to facilitate tailored support, formalised pathways to accreditation/coaching, and induction events to enable relationships. With evidence of wide-ranging benefits, the multi-agency programme shows promise in steering vulnerable young people towards positive futures.

 

To read the report, please click on the link below.

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Latest research paper explores Public Health Approaches for Youth Violence Prevention

Posted on by DOJ Team

The latest paper published by Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), in conjunction with the NI Executive’s Tackling Paramilitarism, Criminality and Organised Crime Programme is a rapid review of public health approaches to prevent youth violence. The report, which analysed 60 sources, found some consistency in principles but differences in how these were put into practice.

 

The report outlines five key themes that make up public health approaches: priorities like good data; principles like addressing root causes; policies to support prevention; practices like identifying risks and evaluating programs; and evidence-based programs at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.  These themes offer a framework for complex prevention which often requires multiple programs being delivered concurrently.

 

The report concludes that core parts of public health approaches to youth violence and gaps need to be addressed. Important practical factors like making programs adaptable and fitting them to context are underexplored and more detailed evaluations of real-world programs could improve understanding.

 

Dr Colm Walsh from QUB said: “Key practical details to make evidence-based programs more achievable are often missing from research. For example, there is little on ‘adaptability’ – how new organisations can successfully copy programs. This paper begins that discussion but also highlights that more research on these practical factors is needed.”

 

To read the report, please click on the link below.

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