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interview


The co-founder of the Alliance of Sport explains how the organisation is using sport and physical activity to transform the lives of those in prison.


THE prison population in England and Wales currently stands in the region of 85,000 and it continues to grow. At present, 29 per cent of adults and 42 per cent of children reoffend within one year of release from prison, with these rates rising significantly for those with 11 or more previous offences – 50 per cent of adults and 77 per cent of children. Sport and physical activity has been shown


to help change the lives of people in prison. In her recent independent review of sport in the criminal justice system, Professor Rosie Meek highlighted how sport is helping to improve mental and physical health, reduce violence and tackle reoffending. She made 12 recommendations (see box p12) to transform sport and physical activity in custody. Professor Meek is a member of the Alliance of Sport’s Steering Group, an organisation which formed in October 2015 to develop, test, promote and coordinate best practice in using sport as a vehicle for tackling crime. Funded by Comic Relief, it was founded by Justin Coleman and James Mapstone as a project managed by their social enterprise, the 2nd Chance Group. It has grown exponentially since then into a sector-leading body that convenes leading experts to maximise the power of sport to prevent crime and rehabilitate people held in the criminal justice system in many different ways. “We value Professor Meek’s review and are looking forward to working with our active network to help support its recommendations. It is without doubt a step in the right direction and it’s opened up conversations and continues to raise awareness. There’s much more to do, of course, but it provides a great platform for increasing sport and physical activity’s role in the rehabilitation process,” says Coleman.


harnessing the power of sport From improving confidence, self-esteem and resilience to contributing to individual development, educational attainment and employment, the benefits of sport are well documented. And these benefits have arguably even greater impact for those in custody. “Used appropriately, sport has the potential


to offer an alternative means of excitement and risk-taking to that gained in engaging in


10 pactfacilities.co.uk


criminal behaviour,” says Coleman. “Sport also gives access to an alternative social network and positive role models. By engaging in sport, people feel better about themselves and form stronger relationships Participants become more willing to engage in other means of pro- social activity within ‘life’ and our communities.” The Alliance brings together experts from the


Ministry of Justice, Public Health, the Home Office, HMPPS, the Youth Justice Board, charities and sporting bodies to forge partnerships and build a robust evidence base showing the impact of sport in the criminal justice system. The aim is to influence policy and practice and ultimately embed sport at the


heart of the criminal justice system. “By launching pilot projects in prisons and in


communities, we are able to test what works, and what doesn’t when using sport and activity to disrupt or break the cycle of crime,” explains Coleman. “Our ultimate aim is to increase participation


and reduce offending by ensuring there is an effective sport-based intervention for every person in the criminal justice system, or anyone at risk of becoming involved in crime.” The Alliance has a community of more than 400 active organisations, ranging from sports federations, charities and community sport providers mainly from England and Wales, but


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