We all know Sport and Physical Activity have positive social and personal impacts – but sometimes we don’t know how to evidence this.
Having data at your fingertips and being able to show cause and effect strengthens your position when seeking additional investment in your programmes of work.
As a strand of our ‘insight and data’ work Tees Valley Sport will guide and support you in the evaluation of your Physical Activity projects.
Gemma Nelson, who leads this area, is a Ph.D. Student working with Tees Valley Sport to undertake data capture and insight work.
Sporting Chance in Stockton is an organisation that provides opportunities for men aged 55+ to participate in physical activity. The project was established to counter loneliness and improve men’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing.
Sporting Chance asked Tees Valley Sport for support in the evaluation of their project.
In response to this request Gemma is co-ordinating some health MOTs for the clients, deploying expertise from the lecturers and students at Teesside University.
Students will undertake a preparatory session in the university labs to standardise practice. They will then attend one of the Sporting Chance sessions in Norton where participants will be assessed on a suite of tests:-
Participants will be provided with their overall health status and be given advice and explanation of their individual results.
Alongside these physical tests Sporting Chance are using questionnaires to capture self-reported data for the group members.
The tests will be repeated after a 12 week period to assess if the physical activity undertaken has impacted positively and to identify if the men have embraced suggested lifestyle changes.
We are keen to support other traditional and non-traditional sport organisations to evidence the impact of their programmes. To find out more please contact Gemma Nelson on 01642 342287 / g.nelson@tees.ac.uk
Posted on 24th January 2019