What makes this Commission different is the way it will work. The emphasis is on finding, understanding, and amplifying the lived, but often unheard, experiences of children and young people. We will also hear from those neighbourhood level organisations that work to support them.
For too many children and young people, growing up in low-income and under-served communities means reduced life-chances. These young people endure a broad spectrum of inequalities: they are more likely to suffer worse physical health and poorer mental health; many never go on holiday and are more likely to suffer food insecurity. Whether as victim or perpetrator, low-income youngsters disproportionately experience negative contact with the youth justice system.
The Commission is concerned with inequality and especially the inequality that reduces the chances of young people adopting an active lifestyle and gaining all the social and physical benefits being active can bring. The Commission will examine how low-income families rely on those typically small, neighbourhood organisations which challenge this inequality and deliver sport and other activities in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
The Commission will combine hard academic evidence, and in-depth conversation with community organisations themselves, to comprehensively assess the strengths, challenges and opportunities for this under-appreciated corner of the sporting landscape.
The Commission is independent and evidence led. It seeks the broadest possible dialogue – bringing together academics, professional bodies, frontline organisations and the young people who benefit from them.