Conflict resolution in sport programmes

Leap Confronting Conflict is supporting sport-based projects across the UK.

These projects aim to bring young people together who are in, or at risk of, conflict with each other. They are all located in places that are identified conflict hotspots.

Sport has the ability to engage, bring groups together, provide common experience, build trust and respect, promote good health, reinforce national and regional pride and identity, and create a universal language.
However, it can also be tribal, divide communities, reinforce conflict, be elitist, competitive, fuelled by prejudice and violence.
By embedding conflict resolution work into sport programmes sport can become a great catalyst for change.

Sport Relief funds nine projects across the UK.
Leap has been brought in by Sport Relief to capacity build these organisations, to train their staff and support the development of their programmes for young people.
There are two projects in Glasgow, and the others are in London, Belfast, Bradford, Halifax, Liverpool, Peterborough and Sunderland.

All projects look to create a synthesis between sport and conflict resolution. Engagement in these sports programme means that young people are automatically engaged in learning Conflict Resolution skills and techniques.
Some use a rotation model, alternating learning between the two areas; some have educational time outs. Many focus on developing roles for young people or training young sports coaches and peer leaders.

Leap works to support the projects in different ways. Introductory courses in conflict resolution, with specialised follow up days – for instance, in Programme Planning, Race and Diversity, Working with Gangs and Territorialism, Working with Anger and Aggression, Training for Trainers, or Developing Peer Trainers. We also offer ongoing project support involving coaching, modelling, consultation, observation and feedback.

Leap is always looking for new learning opportunities. Is there something specific about sport as a tool that makes it particularly useful in relation to learning about conflict resolution? What conditions are necessary for sport to have a beneficial outcome on fractured communities? Is there something intrinsic about sport that engages young people that are in conflict?
These are some of the questions we are asking in this area of work.
Watch out for the emerging findings in 2009.

To find out more about our work with Sport Programmes contact Jessie.

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