The recent roundtable hosted by the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity marked an initial step in gathering leaders from the sporting world and the homelessness sector. The primary aim of the discussion was to explore how sport can serve as a powerful vehicle for preventing homelessness. With a strong emphasis on the social and economic benefits of sports initiatives, the dialogue highlighted the pivotal roles that both grassroots organisations and established sports clubs can play in driving meaningful change within their communities.

The Economic Impact of Sport

According to reports from 2021, the sport-related Gross Value Added (GVA) in the UK was £53.6 billion, accounting for 2.6% of the country's total GVA. This considerable figure underscores the economic impact of the sports industry, but the discussion at the roundtable went beyond mere financial metrics. The consensus was clear: sport initiatives can significantly enhance physical and mental health, bridge social divides, and empower marginalised groups. The "Uniting the Movement" strategy, introduced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England, aspires to leverage the transformative power of sport to foster social change and reduce inequalities across the spectrum of society.

Bridging the Gaps

Despite the positive strides made, the roundtable revealed an ongoing need for better alignment between sports interventions and the expertise available within the voluntary community, social enterprises, and the public sector. Participants openly discussed several barriers hindering progress, including challenges related to inclusivity, instances of tokenism in advocacy efforts, and difficulties in monitoring and evaluation processes. These obstacles often impede the full realisation of sport as an effective tool for social change.

The session encouraged delegates to reflect upon critical questions regarding the unique role of sports in combating homelessness. They examined lessons learned in their work, explored opportunities for innovation, and considered potential collaborative efforts. The objectives centred around understanding sport's current contributions to accelerating an end to homelessness, identifying gaps, and contemplating actionable next steps for effective change-making.

Themes of Discussion

Critical themes emerged during the discussions, ranging from collaboration versus siloed working to employability and social mobility. The significance of robust evidence and data collection methods, advocacy, social investment, and partnerships were all raised. Throughout the talks, there was a clear recognition of sport's potential as a catalyst for social change.

Convened by Dr. Fran Darlington-Pollock (Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity) and Jo Metcalfe (Associate, The Centre for Homelessness Impact), the roundtable brought together diverse stakeholders, including clubs, foundations, charities, and representatives from the public sector. Engaging in meaningful dialogues, they examined the barriers, opportunities, and risks associated with forming collaborative partnerships to use sport proactively in preventing homelessness.

Sport as a Vehicle for Social Change

The discussions emphasised the role of sport in addressing homelessness as a potential tool for social change. By providing active engagement opportunities, sports has the potential to improve prevention rates against homelessness. However, to maximise its impact, strategies must evolve from offering transactional benefits to implementing intentional initiatives that foster social capital, a sense of belonging, and long-term stability. It’s essential to define ‘prevention’ clearly within the context of homelessness, acknowledging the interconnected nature of social issues like poverty, mental health challenges, and unemployment.

The Need for Collaboration

Collaboration across regions and organisations is vital for dismantling the silos often present in sports initiatives. By sharing knowledge and resources, sports foundations, clubs, and relevant agencies can address barriers that include language differences and differing expectations. Such effective collaboration can empower communities and drive social progress by leveraging the strengths of multiple stakeholders, including public sector entities and the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

Data Sharing and Advocacy

Additionally, participants highlighted the pressing need for improved data sharing practices to better measure the impact of sports initiatives on broader social issues. By understanding where initiatives yield the greatest impact, and implementing robust monitoring and evaluation processes, stakeholders can foster effective partnerships and maximise their outreach.

Advocacy and messaging emerged as key areas for potential progress, with clubs and foundations encouraged to work together to reshape public perceptions and policies surrounding homelessness. By utilising their brand influence, sports organisations can raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and promote initiatives that seek to mitigate the risk of homelessness among at risk communities.

Shifting Focus to Prevention

At the club level, local employability schemes exemplify how strong connections to sports clubs can support effectiveness interventions, by providing unified messaging and demonstrating the role that sport could play in preventing homelessness. Shifting focus from mere crisis responses to proactive campaigns advocating for sport's role in prevention is critical in driving positive outcomes.

The sports sector can facilitate employment pathways through club initiatives, create outreach programs aimed at reducing homelessness risks, and collaborate with local agencies to explore social investment funds. Such collaborative efforts can augment resources targeted at addressing homelessness and enhance the corporate social responsibility of clubs.

The Road Ahead

To fully harness the potential of sport in preventing homelessness, participants at the roundtable identified the necessity for a regional shared framework. Key actions include developing structured pathways that address the underlying drivers of homelessness, creating forums for collaboration, establishing regional alliances for improved data sharing, and launching advocacy campaigns that position sport as a significant player in the fight against homelessness.

Attendees left with a sense of purpose and determination. The potential of sport to incite social change is immense, and by fostering collaboration and innovation among stakeholders, we can work toward a future where homelessness is addressed through the unifying power of sport.

• Jo Metcalfe is an Associate at the Centre for Homelessness Impact