About the Project
Active 4 Life is a collaborative program between The Salvation Army Centre of Hope and Street Soccer London with support from community partners. The purpose of the program is to provide social inclusion and physical literacy through sports opportunities to people experiencing housing instability and/or mental health concerns. With a variety of sports options throughout the week, the program seeks to be low-barrier and provides a space of belonging and activity.
Our research involved a mixed methods evaluation process looking both qualitatively and quantitatively at social inclusion and physical literacy. Researchers engaged with the program over a period of 2 years to conduct time 1 and time 2 surveys, as well as interviews with participants. Data sources are explored together to understand overall how the program did or did not contribute to inclusion and physical literacy.
Research Team
Abe Oudshoorn, Co-Investigator
Laura Misener, Co-Investigator
Jenna Richards, Co-Investigator
Colleen Van Loon
Kirsten Locke
Katie Abbott
Megan Yates
Lucy Park
Funding
The Salvation Army
Ontario Sport and Recreation Community Fund Grant
Findings
Through this project, particularly the qualitative data, we find that sports programs targeted for people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges offer potential for social inclusion outside of emergency shelters or hospitals. In this way, these programs may assist in anchoring individuals into a broader community that is not limited by their temporary place of accommodation.
Knowledge Translation
Publication:
Oudshoorn, A., Misener, L., Richards, J., & Van Berkum, A. (2023). Support Provided Through Sport: An Evaluation of an Intervention for People Experiencing Homelessness. Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health, 10(2), 167–177. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40737-022-00300-9
Practice manual:
10.14.18-SIC-TrainingManual-11
Presentation: