Major platform for sport and criminal justice at Elevate

Sport and physical activity’s power as a catalyst for change in the criminal justice system will be among the topics of discussion at Elevate – a free event at ExCel London on Wednesday May 8.

Justin Coleman, Alliance of Sport Co-Founder and Secretariat, and our Trustee, Professor Rosie Meek (author of the 2018 ‘Sporting Chance’ report into sport in prisons), will be joined at the event – dubbed the UK’s leading physical activity trade show – by leading figures in the sector: 

• Dr Zoe Williams – former Gladiator, TV star, GP and Public Health England Lead Clinical champion for Physical Activity 
• Chrissie Wellington MBE – four-time Ironman Triathlon world champion and parkrun’s Global Head of Health and Wellbeing 
• Dr. Phillip Lee MP – former Justice Minister and leading advocate for sport as a vehicle for reducing offending. 

The session at 1430 on May 8 at ExCel London, in Docklands between Canary Wharf and London City Airport, will explore the following themes: 

• How the positive effects of sport and physical activity can be translated into the custodial environment 
• How recommendations (such as those in Prof. Meek’s 2018 “Sporting Chance” report) are being implemented 
• The challenges and opportunities associated with delivering interventions which meet offenders’ needs 
• The necessary facilities, partnerships and workforce development required to achieve change
• The evidence supporting new and innovative approaches.

The Alliance of Sport’s work has helped raise the profile of sport as a vehicle for positive change and rehabilitation in the criminal justice system. If harnessed in the right way, sport’s transformative effects are many, such as improved physical health and wellbeing, mental health, self-discipline, reduced violence and reoffending, improved rehabilitation outcomes, and enhanced life chances and prospects. Programmes can provide access to positive role models, mentors and team-mates, as well as opportunities to gain qualifications to develop a career in sport.  

Prof. Meek (left) said: “It’s exciting to have an opportunity to take our message to a different audience as this kind of industry event is not somewhere we’ve presented before. 

“It’s so encouraging that the organisers of such a big event are recognising the importance of criminal justice in the sport and physical activity sector. It demonstrates a really nice progression of rising awareness and engagement.” 

For more information on Elevate, go to www.elevatearena.com