2nd Chance Group praised by Strategic Lead at Comic Relief

The 2nd Chance Group, who power the Alliance of Sport, has been highlighted nationally as an example of best practice in using sport to achieve social change. 

In an article in the latest issue of Sports Management magazine, Sue Wicks, the Strategic Lead on Sport for Change at Comic Relief, spotlighted 2nd Chance for our work using the power of sport to engage with at-risk groups, ex-offenders and those in prison.

The new Sport England funding available for organisations using sport to achieve social change has led to growth in the Sport for Development sector, and in the article, Wicks praised 2nd Chance in particular for how we record and evidence our impact.

Our expertise in this area is something we’re keen to share through our Theory of Change. It provides a framework for all sports projects to achieve and evidence social outcomes in a variety of different areas, from initial engagement of service users to physical and mental wellbeing, individual development, pathways into education and employment and social and community development.

“The sport for change sector is still relatively new,” says Wicks. “It’s still gaining momentum, but I think everyone is grappling with how to measure it and collate the evidence, in order to show people, including government, that sport can play a really important role in society.

“If you look at 2nd Chance, they’ve used their evidence to demonstrate the ways in which sport can be used as a tool to work with people either in prison or at risk of re-offending.

“When asked, they can directly provide the evidence to show that this is effective.

“Once we get to that point, where we can demonstrate the power sport has to deliver social change, we should be able to unlock much more support.”

To read the full article, click here.