Clubs and community organisations are stronger when they intentionally contribute to the needs of their community. By understanding community need and being responsive to this through our planning, design and delivery, this will help clubs to engage more participants as well as more diverse participation, thereby creating strong, sustainable, safe, and inclusive clubs that meet the needs of their community and their members.
It is an approach, mindset and way of working. It intentionally uses sport and physical activity to bring about positive change for individuals and communities, helping to make club sport as inclusive as possible.
Sport and physical activity are inherently wonderful. The inherent benefits of sport and physical activity are well documented. However, research clearly shows that using sport and physical activity intentionally increases its impact. Research shows that the type of physical activity is relatively unimportant. It is the intention and how it is delivered that matters. As well as increasing impact, the approach also increases participation.
Meeting Community Need – the difference it can make
We know that levels of inactivity in Scotland are higher than they should be. In order for sport and physical to reach the inactive and the disengaged, and to be inclusive and achieve our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion aspirations, we need to meet these individuals where they are and better understand their needs. By meeting their needs through sport and physical activity, not only do we get more people active and participating, but we also provide positive impact and outcomes for them and their communities.
Who benefits?
Impact can happen at club level, individual and community level and at national level.
Sporting organisations and clubs
The main purpose for using this approach is to benefit people and communities and meet their needs. However, taking the approach can also benefit sporting organisations and sports clubs by;
- reaching new audiences with more people discovering the sport
- building a community connection
- attracting new volunteers
- attracting a wider range of staff and volunteers with a stronger skillset, beyond sport
- enhancing sustainability of the organisation, including being more ‘investable in’
- building awareness and raising profile of the organisation
- working in partnerships, brings in new skills, resources and expertise
"A club changed its narratives from ‘you could be our next club members’ to ‘feel better physically, mentally, and socially’ and this has been a huge step and opened the door to more engagement.”
"I realised it wasn’t about replacing a performance programme, it was about changing one so you were also achieving social outcomes as well as performance.”
The approach therefore supports an organisation’s participation outcomes as well as supporting individuals and communities.
Sports club face many challenges in terms of operations, finances, volunteers, and remaining sustainable long term. Clubs can often operate on a year-to-year basis, are not sustainable longer term, and have financial challenges. This way of working can often support some of these challenges, by bringing in new participants, new volunteers, new resources through partnerships, and by being more investable in given the focus on wider needs, and not just traditional sporting outcomes. Sports clubs are often the anchor in their communities, and are well positioned to change lives through sport. Many Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport and local authorities have officer support available to work with clubs to take them on a journey and embed this approach over a long period without having huge impact on volunteer capacity. These professional officers can support clubs to explore community need, building trust with communities, and designing programmes to meet these needs.
Case Study- Scottish Governing Body of sport
RYA Scotland launched their ‘People, Places and Communities’ strategic plan for 2022 to 2025, signifying a landmark for a governing body of sport, taking a community-centred rather than a corporate approach. In their third Impact Report in 2025, they showcase highlights from across the Scottish sailing and boating community that bring to life the essence of that strategy – creating positive and lasting outcomes for people, places and communities around Scotland.
Scottish FAs Extra Time programme supports participation in sports, whilst also supporting poverty, employment and mental health outcomes. Ayr United FC delivered an after school programme in Ayr North to allow kids to take part in various activities, meeting the kids social and physical needs, with pupil voice being key in the process, and equally supporting the needs of working parents.
sfa-extra-time-annual-impact-report_v6.pdf
Individuals and communities
Scotland faces numerous challenges across society, ranging from child poverty, poor mental health, social isolation, the inequalities gap, high obesity levels and attainment and attendance at school. Sport does not sit in a silo from these challenges, but is part of the communities that face these challenges daily.
The is about intentionally using sport directly in these communities to create positive change in people’s lives and their communities. It’s more than just increasing participation—it’s about addressing real social issues such as mental health, social isolation, poverty, and anti-social behaviour through engagement in sport and physical activity.
Meeting Community Need – the difference it can make (short)
Case study – Community Sport Hub
Castlebrae ‘ Friday Night Lights Project’ is a community-led initiative in Leith, Edinburgh, designed to offer safe, engaging, and structured activities for young people during times when other services are unavailable—particularly Friday evenings. Born out of collaboration between local organisations such as the police, housing associations, schools, youth work services, and sports clubs, the project addresses a gap in provision and aims to use sport as a tool for positive change.
Case study – sports club
The Meeting Centre initiative at Strathmore Cricket Club is a powerful example of community-led, person-centred engagement. Rather than being a service for people, the centre is run with the community and its members—many of whom are living with dementia. The success of the project is rooted in shared ownership, meaningful partnerships, inclusive design, and an unwavering commitment to dignity and wellbeing.
Case Study – sports club
Shettleston Boxing Club Sport For Life 25: Shettleston Boxing Club - Sport First
National level impact
By working intentionally, sport and physical activity can support wider policy areas nationally and locally. We can contribute to multiple outcomes areas within Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.