Questioning policy, youth participation and lifestyle sports

Young people have been identified as a key target group for whom participation in sport and physical activity could have important benefits to health and wellbeing and consequently have been the focus of several government policies to increase participation in the UK. Lifestyle sports represent one such strategy for encouraging and sustaining new engagements in sport and physical activity in youth groups, however, there is at present a lack of understanding of the use of these activities within policy contexts. This paper presents findings from a government initiative which sought to increase participation in sport for young people through provision of facilities for mountain biking in a forest in south-east England. Findings from qualitative research with 40 young people who participated in mountain biking at the case study location highlight the importance of non-traditional sports as a means to experience the natural environments through forms of consumption which are healthy, active and appeal to their identities. In addition, however, the paper raises questions over the accessibility of schemes for some individuals and social groups, and the ability to incorporate sports which are inherently participant-led into state-managed schemes. Lifestyle sports such as mountain biking involve distinct forms of participation which present a challenge for policy-makers who seek to create and maintain sustainable communities of youth participants

Reconsidering Cohesion Policy : the Contested debate on Territorial Cohesion

The incorporation of territorial cohesion as a regional policy objective has focused attention on the potential role of territorial cooperation in pursuing this goal. However, the broad agreement on the positive effects of territorial cooperation is not always matched by the same enthusiasm when funds are being allocated. The concrete impact of territorial cooperation is often difficult to identify. At the same time, in terms of the qualitative impacts of territorial cooperation, the added value of INTERREG for territorial cohesion is difficult to dispute

Children and young people and rural poverty and social exclusion:A review of evidence

No abstract available

The utilisation of groups for innovation and knowledge transfer

The use of group processes to encourage innovation and to transfer best practice is relatively novel in the agricultural sector. However, Menter a Busnes, a Welsh economic development company, has been utilising this approach for over a decade. Since successfully tendering in 2011 to deliver the main elements of the Farming Connect programme funded by the Welsh Government under the Rural Development Plan, they have been developing and expanding group principles with a view to engaging a greater number of farmers for a variety of purposes and with a broad range of different groups. This paper outlines how the company initially became involved in group processes through the design and launch of the Agrisgôp programme which utilises Action Learning to develop ideas and resolve issues. Examples of some of the projects undertaken by the groups are given along with experiences relating to group dynamics and facilitation. The broader context of the current Farming Connect programme is described and the variety and nature of group processes currently being utilised for knowledge transfer is discussed. Two studies undertaken in relation to groups are outlined. The first considers whether personality can be used to predict effective facilitators of organisational change and the second involves the design and development of a mixed measures tool to quantify the impact of group processes over time. Finally some conclusions are drawn with regard to lessons learnt in relation to group methodologies and possible ways forward for the future

Creative Growth Regional Mapping

Report by TBR economic research and business intelligence, for the Institute of Creative Industries, Edinburgh Napier University

Broadband in Scotland : broader, faster, poorer, remoter

The provision of universal broadband Internet access in Scotland has been the subject of political promises, to support economic growth and reduce social divides. The market supplying broadband is subject to complex, multi-tiered governance. Until the UK leaves the EU, it is subject to EU aspirations, directives and regulations, which are implemented in London by the UK government and regulatory authority. There are strong path dependencies, arising from the Openreach agreement on wholesale access, between the regulator and BT, which affects both the residential and business markets. Competition in fixed broadband is primarily service-based and dependent on regulation. Mobile broadband has limited infrastructure-based competition, with incentives from UK government to extend coverage. State aid has been provided by complex means to support increased rural provision, but has not been ended, in favour of cross-subsidies. Those disinclined to use the Internet are being encouraged to do so, by local initiatives, partly to ease the digital by default strategy for government services. Brexit brings the possibility of change, by leaving the EU governance system, while the possibility of Scottish independence would require an entirely new system of market governance

Barriers to increasing the physical activity of people with intellectual disabilities

© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Accessible summary: We talked to people with intellectual disabilities and their carers about being healthy. Sometimes it was difficult for people with intellectual disabilities to take part in activities that would help keep them healthy. Being active is not just about doing special sports and activities. It can be part of everyday life. People with intellectual disabilities could become more active and be healthier with help from their carers. Abstract: Background: The prevalence of obesity, inactivity and related morbidity and mortality is higher amongst people with intellectual disabilities than in the population in general, an issue of global concern. This research examined the perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities and their carers, on exercise and activity. Materials and Methods: Qualitative data were collected via interviews and a focus group with people with intellectual disabilities and their paid and family carers, recruited via state-funded community-based day centres in Scotland. Results: Three barriers hindered service users with intellectual disabilities from regular involvement in physical activity: (i) acceptance of an inactive lifestyle by carers; (ii) restrictions on activity due to paid carer preferences and resource limitations; (iii) communication issues between family carers and paid carers. Barriers were based on assumptions made by paid and family carers, so there is potential to increase activity by changing attitudes, improving communication and reconceptualising activity as integral to everyday living, rather than as additional exercise requiring special resources. Conclusions: Carers should be supported to promote physical activity in a variety of ways to enhance the motivation of service users, to encourage them to engage with physical activity as an integral part of a healthy lifestyle and to transfer this to their lives beyond day care