Pathways to physical activity legacy: assessing the regeneration potential of multi-sport events using a prospective approach

Urban regeneration is now commonly cited as the rationale for hosting multi-sport events. However, the concept of legacy arising from these events is contested and the evidence base in relation to benefits for the host community is weak, especially in respect of increasing physical activity and sports participation. A theory-based assessment framework is developed to provide a robust prospective assessment of the likely impacts of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on physical activity for the host community in the East End of the city. We identify scope for change, anticipated causal pathways and propose supporting physical activity though better designed environments as a means of generating legacy benefits at population level

People, Place and Prosperity in the East End of Glasgow

Both Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government have made the east end of Glasgow a particular (though not the only) focus for legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games.<p></p> In order to achieve local legacy impacts, preparations for the Games themselves have been integrated with a regeneration strategy for the east end, and developments and other activities in the area have been underway since the award of the Games to Glasgow in 2007.<p></p> This report is part of a study, GoWell in the East End, which started in 2012 and is due to continue until 2017. The report examines the likelihood of the Games, and associated regeneration activities, having economic impacts upon the east end in the short-term and the medium- to long-term.<p></p&gt

The Glasgow 2014 Games: Regeneration and Physical Activity Legacy

Both the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council expressed an intention to use the 2014 Commonwealth Games to inspire more citizens to become physically active. This report looks at the prospect of this being achieved in the East End of Glasgow, which served as the 'host' community for the Games, and was an area particularly identified as potentially benefitting from legacy.<p></p> In order to conduct the evaluation of physical activity legacy prospects in Glasgow's East End, we reviewed the major legacy programmes from the CWG in order to identify initiatives which are intended by their sponsors to support increased levels of physical activity. Following this, we used policy documents and stakeholder interviews to understand the mechanisms through which the programmes were intended to work. As a result, we identified 39 legacy programmes relevant to a sports and physical activity legacy, which we have divided into four legacy pathways: sports facilities; social infrastructure; schools; and environment.<p></p> Pathway One - Sports Facilities: This pathway includes programmes relating to investment in new and improved sports and leisure facilities, so that people have the opportunity to take more exercise.<p></p> Pathway Two - Social Infrastructure: This pathway relates to the development of social infrastructure through sports clubs, events, coaching and volunteers in order to stimulate grassroots participation.<p></p> Pathway Three - Schools: This pathway includes programmes which involve schools in order to promote greater levels of physical activity for children.<p></p> Pathway Four - Environment: This pathway covers programmes which aim to supporting physical activity and active travel through better-designed local environments.<p></p> The report combines the information gathered on the legacy programmes with evidence from the 2012 GoWell East survey to present an assessment of the prospects for each of the four legacy pathways.<p></p&gt

Ethnicity: GoWell in the East End: Ethnicity in the Baseline Survey

In 2012, GoWell East conducted a community survey around the main Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games sites in the East End of the city. This survey was planned as part of a longer-term evaluation of the impacts of the Games for the host community in the East End of Glasgow.  This ‘Ethnicity’ report is part of a set of four ‘Equalities’ reports, designed to provide a baseline of differences between various equalities groups prior to the Games, in relation to the Scottish Government’s four legacy themes: Active; Flourishing; Connected; and Sustainable. Three other reports examine equality issues relating to gender, longstanding illness and disability and household type

Can housing improvements cure or prevent the onset of health conditions over time in deprived areas?

Background: There is a need for more evidence linking particular housing improvements to changes in specific health conditions. Research often looks at generic works over short periods. Methods: We use a longitudinal sample (n = 1933) with a survey interval of 2–5 years. Multivariate logistic regression is used to calculate the odds ratios of developing or recovering from six health conditions according to receipt of four types of housing improvements. Results: Receipt of fabric works was associated with higher likelihood of recovery from mental health problems and circulatory conditions. Receipt of central heating was also associated with higher likelihood of recovery form circulatory conditions. No evidence was found for the preventative effects of housing improvements. Conclusions: Health gain from housing improvements appears most likely when targeted at those in greatest health need. The health impacts of area-wide, non-targeted housing improvements are less clear in our study

Longstanding Illness and Disability: GoWell in the East End: Key equalities issues in the Baseline Survey

In 2012, GoWell East conducted a community survey around the main Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games sites in the East End of the city. This survey was planned as part of a longer-term evaluation of the impacts of the Games for the host community in the East End of Glasgow. This ‘Longstanding illness and disability’ report is part of a set of four ‘Equalities’ reports, designed to provide a baseline of differences between various equalities groups prior to the Games, in relation to the Scottish Government’s four legacy themes: Active; Flourishing; Connected; and Sustainable. Three other reports examine equality issues relating to household type (incorporating the issue of age), gender, and ethnic background

Entering and leaving employment in deprived neighbourhoods undergoing area regeneration

Concentrations of worklessness have been persistent in the UK for several decades but have not been tackled effectively by policy. An individualised approach to unemployment has existed, alongside employment policies without a strong geographical component. A reliance on area-based regeneration programmes has shifted from a property-led to a holistic approach, with the potential to address a range of factors associated with employment. To gauge the effectiveness and appropriateness of holistic area regeneration, this paper uses longitudinal survey data to examine movements into and out of employment for people living in deprived areas of Glasgow with concentrated worklessness and subject to area regeneration. There were modest net gains to employment over time in the study areas, and such gains were positively associated with traditional elements of regeneration such as housing improvements and community empowerment. However, other components of regeneration assumed to aid employment, such as social networks and participation in training, were found to have no effect. Other factors that were associated both with entering or leaving employment feature less frequently within regeneration programmes and require more integration into future approaches, particularly increasing physical activity among populations, helping people cope with physical and mental health issues, and improving transport and mobility

GoWell in Glasgow’s East End: Baseline Community Survey

GoWell: Studying Change in Glasgow's East End is a five-year, mixed methods research programme, designed to evaluate the impacts of regeneration and other changes associated with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games upon the health and wellbeing of communities in the East End of Glasgow. The project forms part of the Scottish Government's Commonwealth Games Legacy Evaluation Programme. This baseline report presents findings from the first wave of data collection in 2012. These relate to each of the four Scottish Government Evaluation Themes: Active, Flourishing, Sustainable and Connected. Where possible, the report includes comparisons with national benchmarks for indicators under these four themes

Gender: GoWell in the East End: key equalities issues in the baseline survey

In 2012, GoWell East conducted a community survey around the main Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games sites in the East End of the city. This survey was planned as part of a longer-term evaluation of the impacts of the Games for the host community in the East End of Glasgow. This ‘Gender’ report is part of a set of four ‘Equalities’ reports, designed to provide a baseline of differences between various equalities groups prior to the Games, in relation to the Scottish Government’s four legacy themes: Active; Flourishing; Connected; and Sustainable. Three other reports will examine equality issues relating to household type (incorporating the issue of age), longstanding health problems and ethnic background

Household car adoption and financial distress in deprived urban communities: A case of forced car ownership?

This paper explores the relationship between car ownership and financial circumstances for people living in disadvantaged urban communities. Assumptions about cars signifying status and income are problematised by an examination of the characteristics of those who adopt cars. We consider the possibility that, despite low incomes and financial problems, cars may be a necessity for some urban dwellers. Patterns of car ownership and adoption are analysed using cross-sectional and longitudinal survey data collected from communities in Glasgow, between 2006 and 2011, before, during and after the recession. Car ownership rates increased, as more people adopted a car than relinquished vehicles. The likelihood of household car adoption was influenced by changes in household size, increased financial difficulties in relation to housing costs, and where householders gained work. A small but growing proportion of households (up to 8.5% by 2011) are deemed ‘forced car owners’ by virtue of owning a car despite also reporting financial difficulties: three-quarters of this group maintain a car despite financial problems whilst a quarter adopt a car despite financial problems. Findings suggest that poor households are reluctant to relinquish their cars to ease money problems when under financial stress and that, for some, acquiring a car may be seen as necessary to better their circumstances. In neither case can we see evidence that the sustainable transport agenda is reaching disadvantaged communities and there are concerns that regeneration strategies are failing to promote mobility and accessibility for poor communities via transport policies