National Space

Research, evaluation and system learning

Research and evaluation help Sport for Confidence better understand what works, strengthen practice and improve outcomes for communities.

We work with universities, partners and people with lived experience to explore how meaningful participation in physical activity can reduce inequalities, improve wellbeing and strengthen belonging. This includes systems-thinking approaches, practice-based learning, co-production and workforce evaluation.

A key part of this work is a three-year PhD systems-thinking evaluation with the University of Essex linked to the Sport England National System Partnership.

The research focuses on Basildon and Brentwood, exploring how organisations, services and communities work together to improve inclusive access to physical activity. Barriers, relationships and opportunities that influence participation have been mapped, with stakeholders using systems-thinking tools to better understand how factors such as confidence, transport, awareness, referral pathways and social support interact across the wider system.

The work is helping identify where change could have the biggest impact, and helps support day-to-day practice by strengthening partnership working, improving understanding of local barriers and embedding evaluation into delivery.