Using sport to level up communities is an #OpenGoal
Denis Law Legacy Trust is marking the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) on April 6 by supporting the launch of the ‘Open Goal’ campaign.
Open Goal has been created by Denis Law Legacy Trust and fellow members of the Sport for Development Coalition to showcase how sport and physical activity can contribute to building a fairer, more equitable and sustainable future.
In particular, it will focus on how the 200-plus members of the Coalition specifically support a series of positive health and societal outcomes such as reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, and building stronger communities and social cohesion in the wake of Covid-19.
IDSDP takes place each year on April 6 and, according to the United Nations, presents “an opportunity to recognise the positive role sport and physical activity play in communities and in people’s lives across the globe”.
It is certain to resonate strongly in 2022 because of current conflict around the globe, and in the wake of Covid-19. First and foremost, Open Goal will see the Coalition call on UK Government to ringfence funding committed for jobs, health and tackling crime towards targeted sport-based interventions that can save public money and generate multiple returns on investment, from improving the physical and mental health of individuals facing disadvantage and discrimination, to increasing educational attainment and the ability to secure employment.
This will support the Government’s recently-launched ‘Levelling Up’ agenda which outlined 12 ‘Missions’ to be achieved by 2030, eight of which Coalition members are directly contributing to.
Mark Williams, Chief Operating Officer of Denis Law Legacy Trust, said: “The Open Goal campaign is one which resonates entirely with our ethos at the Trust through our programmes which aim to improve the lives of young people through sport.
“We see every day how important sport is to communities in Aberdeen. It’s an invaluable and proven tool to help reduce anti-social behaviour while creating a more equal playing field”.
Open Goal will also see the Coalition work with its partners across multiple sectors, for example by supporting the charity Made by Sport’s aim to secure more private sector and corporate investment into targeted programmes tackling the social issues faced by young people in communities across the UK. Made by Sport is an official partner of the Coalition.
Finally, Open Goal will also seek to champion sport’s role in tackling inequalities and building a fairer society through national and local media, helping to amplify the business case for scaled investment in targeted sport and physical activity-based interventions.
To find out more, follow @SFDCoalition #OpenGoal on Twitter or visit sportfordevelopmentcoalition.org
