working in community

Summary

Inequality and Sport

In this relating to developing ‘Sport for all’ in terms of inequality and sport is as (Hylton and Totten 2013) mentioned ‘Sport development has been at the cutting edge of what are seen as innovative and refreshing approaches to traditional sport provision. Despite constraints within their organisations, sport workers today are attempting to offer more opportunities to the public’ This shows less inequality and having sport are key within developing ‘Sport for all’ as the traditional approaches are becoming less useful than the more refreshing approach. What this also shows is even though organisations are restricted, there have been more chances and opportunities arising from sport workers that are currently being given them to public.

Regarding inequity and sport (Hylton and Totten 2013) as say ‘Sport development professionals are challenged to plan, implement and monitor equality work in sport. Furthermore, cultural shifts that have to take place in organisations for long-term change need to go hand in hand with political and social change.’ What this meant was sport development professionals will need to focus towards sport when planning, implementing and monitoring equality. The things that were also mentioned were based in long-term change with shifts which take place culturally within organisations that will need to go hand and hand along with change politically and socially.

Social exclusion and inclusion

Another sport related issue which comes under this is social exclusion and inclusion as this is known to be what separates the social and economic norm, according to (Hylton and Totten 2013) ‘Persistent barriers to participation can be understood as ‘social exclusion’. Social inclusion is more than exclusion from sport.’ In this quote is giving you a brief idea of what social exclusion and exclusion is and social inclusion is not only exclusion from sport. Another thing that was mentioned from (Hylton and Totten 2013) was ‘Social exclusion is typified by social and economic inequalities and by continual aggravation of differences and divisions in the life chances of the members of the same society. For example, divisions can be expressed socially in terms of gender differences in sport; economically in terms of differences in income; or culturally through ethnic differences. ‘Exclusion’ and ‘inclusion’ affect individuals in different ways, but ultimately have a decisive impact on overall quality of life.’ What they meant by this is social inclusion is characterised by inequalities socially and economically, with a continued frustration of differences and division within life which brings opportunities to the members of the same society. Inclusion and exclusion impact people in other ways, which will eventually important impact on overall quality of life.

Sport development workers would work within different areas to reduce social exclusion as (Hylton and Totten 2013) said ‘Sport development workers need to be conscious of the evident common ground that sport shares with other ‘social’ services working towards social inclusion. Shared professional knowledge and integrated resources across department areas can improve services. These shared areas of interest become fields for integrated coherent policies and are often referred to as ‘cross-cutters’. Cross-cutters enable professionals to work together to reduce social exclusion and include:

· Community development;

· Lifelong learning;

· Social cohension;

· Community safety;

· Active healthy lifestyles;

· Social and economic regeneration;

· Job creation;

· Equal opportunities;

· Crime prevention;

· Environment protection.

All the above emphasise that sport that sport must not be considered in isolation from other aspects of society.’

As mentioned in this quote there are many different ways that cross-cutters are able to work with each other to reduce social inclusion, sport development workers need to be more aware of the obvious common ground in which sport shares working towards social inclusion with other social services.

Social exclusion and ‘Sport for All’

In terms of social exclusion and ‘Sport for All’ systematically if seems that there are intentional and unintentional exclusions according to (Hylton and Totten 2013) ‘The systematic nature of the intentional and unintentional exclusions in each Member State poses a number of complex problems for key stakeholders of sport. In the UK the demand for ‘joined-up thinking’ confirmed that sport should be used as one instrument within a broad diet of activity influenced by government and related stakeholders.’ In this section of chapter it shows the key stakeholders of sport is facing problems and which are posed by Member State, through the nature of intentional and unintentional exclusions systematically.

Barriers to participation

Barriers to participation are normally one of the ways that people are not apart of inclusion but are apart of exclusion and there are different reasons for this and according to (Hylton and Totten 2013) ‘Promoting inclusion and tackling exclusion involve identifying inequalities. Ultimately inequality is shaped by different social, cultural, political and economic processes. Using previously identified quantitative and qualitative methods of analysing participation, same influences crop up regularly. Key influences include disposable income, levels of educational attainment, occupational status, social class, culture, ethnicity, gender, age, ability and disability.’ What this meant was defining barriers of participation, this involved the keys influences and identifying inequalities.

In this part of the chapter they also speak on social influences, alienation and how previously highlighted barriers can exclude and lead to feelings if ‘this is not me’. (Hylton and Totten 2013) also mentioned ‘These social influences can either empower or discourage sports participation. In terms of exclusion, influences can also act as potential barriers to participation. These can be further categorized as physical, economic, motivational, cultural and political. Physical barriers to participation include the location of facilities, activities and services.’ In this quote displayed the different barriers of participation, which means for example you may be able to participate in sport but you do not have a location or other facilities which are physical barriers.

Conclusion

I feel that in the area of inequality and sport it showed me that as long as there is inequality sport will not develop how it should be. In my future aspirations as a Sport Development and Management professional inequality and sport has made me more aware when planning, implementing and monitoring equality.

Social exclusion and inclusion has made me understand more about the social and economic inequalities. I my future aspirations this could help as I know more about people and what different social services are evident in common ground and as a professional to work together and reduce social exclusion.

Social exclusion and ‘Sport for All’ has showed me how the key stakeholders of sport is facing problems and which are posed by Member State, through the nature of intentional and unintentional exclusions systematically. Towards my future aspirations what I could do as a professional is to participate in equality development work.

Barriers to participation within my future aspirations would include myself identifying inequalities, key influences as a way to guide my professional career. Knowing how to promote inclusion and tackle exclusion.

Reference List

Hylton, K. and Totten, M. (2013). Sport Development: Policy, process and practice 3rd edn. Oxon and New York: Routledge.