News & Events / News / New research: Levelling the Playing Field project can be ‘gamechanger’ for tackling inequalities in sport and youth justice

New research: Levelling the Playing Field project can be ‘gamechanger’ for tackling inequalities in sport and youth justice

The Levelling the Playing Field project could be a ‘gamechanger’ in terms of understanding the over-representation of ethnically diverse children in the Youth Justice System, and their under-representation in sport and physical activity, according to new research.

The Research Team at the University of Birmingham has published its final evaluation report on the project, which was delivered in four areas across the UK (London, West Midlands, South Yorkshire, and Newport in South Wales) between 2020 and 2023, with delivery and further development still ongoing.

The report ‘Background Evidence, Methodology and Findings of the Levelling the Playing Field Project’ (LtPF) was authored by Professor Joan L Duda, Dr Hannah Hammond and Dr Paul Appleton, and officially released at an LtPF celebration event in Newport.

UNPRECEDENTED

During the project, more than 100 LtPF partner organisations engaged 35,672 children and young people, with 63% of them ethnically diverse. In September 2024 a government report rated the project as ‘promising’.

Researchers noted how this targeted approach enabled a “level of specificity on ethnicity” in monitoring and evaluation which is unprecedented in the sports sector, meaning the project could set a blueprint for how to obtain “informed insight into ways to more effectively harness the ‘power of sport’ to tackle crime”.

They added: “The demographic data collected throughout the LtPF project creates an accessible foundation on which we can build monitoring, evaluation and learning, with regards to disproportionality in our sport and justice sectors, at scale, on a local and regional basis.”

Justin Coleman, Chief Operating Officer for the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice which oversaw the project, said: “We’re deeply grateful to the London Marathon Foundation, the Youth Justice Board and the University of Birmingham for their vital partnership and dedication.

“This groundbreaking research, generated by the passion of more than 100 organisations and 1000-plus staff working in multi-agency settings, demonstrates the power of ‘connection before correction’ and ‘safe faces in safe places’.”

Justin added: “The seven key recommendations within the report offer a clear path to achieving equity, increasing physical activity, and strengthening lifelong community connections, and hold a key to reducing inequalities and disproportionality within youth justice settings. Together, we are levelling the playing field.”

IMPLICATIONS

Professor Joan L Duda and Dr Hannah Hammond, from University of Birmingham, commented: “The launch of this report marks a significant milestone, as it will now be available for everyone to read, reflect on and engage with ahead of a larger event later in the year. We strongly encourage all stakeholders – whether from sport, youth justice, policy-making or community engagement – to delve into the findings, consider their implications and challenge themselves to think critically about their responses.

“Our data provides compelling evidence of both the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ – shedding light on the impacts of Specialist Delivery Organisations (SDOs) working in the Third Sector. The research suggests that these organisations, when operating within a robust multi-agency framework across sport and justice – such as the one facilitated by LtPF – are key to ‘levelling the playing field’ for young people. The insights drawn provide a vital evidence base for harnessing the power of sport to address crime and social disparities.”

Keith Fraser, Chair of the Youth Justice Board, said: “The Levelling the Playing Field project has been a beacon of hope, using sport to break down barriers, promote fairness, and transform the lives of over 35,000 children—63% from ethnically diverse backgrounds. This report provides recommendations to extend the project’s impact which we are actively exploring, including how we can help share its insights more widely. Sport and physical activity is a powerful tool for change and this initiative has clearly had a positive impact on children’s lives. In turn, this will contribute towards safer and fairer communities for all.”

Councillor Laura Lacey, Newport City Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Services, commented: “The partnership approach developed in Newport has been very successful and has had a positive impact on the lives of children and young people across the city. We have definitely found being part of the project has been worthwhile, and we hope that the recommendations set out in the report are widely adopted.”

Mike Diaper, Group Funding and Impact Director for London Marathon Group, said: “In 2020, the London Marathon Foundation invested £1million into the Levelling the Playing Field programme, our largest investment into one project at that time. The programme’s aims to support and improve the lives of thousands of marginalised children through sport and physical activity was a clear fit with our vision. LtPF has demonstrated the unique power of sport and physical activity and the transformative effect it can have on the lives of children and young people who are most at risk of negative outcomes.”

At the event in Newport, resources that have been created by the LtPF network (including youth justice and community sector professionals) during the delivery of the project were shared alongside the research. These include:

For media enquiries and interview opportunities, including with community organisations across AoS’ network, please contact simon@allianceofsport.org