Greenhouse Sports commissions external evaluation of our work conducted by independent researchers, in addition to our own internal impact investigation. We believe this to be valuable for several reasons:
- It can corroborate our own analysis and can strengthen the standards of evidence for our outcomes
- It allows us to identify elements of our programmes we should investigate further
- It allows us to draw on resources and expertise above and beyond our own
- It is part of a broader initiative to engage external partners and share best practice with the sector
- Scoping Study, Loughborough University
Our Impact on Employability Skills and Mental Wellbeing of Young People
Our latest Loughborough Research Report presents a summary of research undertaken in Spring 2019 which explored the impact of Greenhouse Sports programmes on participants’ employability skills and their mental wellbeing. Whilst this data was collected before the pandemic began, the importance of the findings are amplified by the reduced contact time between pupils and Greenhouse coaches and the often unstable environment the previous 18 months has provided.
Main findings:
- All of the Greenhouse activities support young people to be engaged in positive activities that promote the development of pro-social identities which provide some protection against dropping out of school, being inactive, lacking aspiration and underachieving
- Greenhouse Sports provides a high-quality and unique experience for young people to engage in sport in school where they are supported and able to develop socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically
- Greenhouse sessions were found to make the young people feel valued, have made them feel part of a community and have reduced their stress levels
- Students reported a boost in confidence from Greenhouse participation and coach support
The Impact of Greenhouse Sports programmes in Schools
For six months in 2017, a team of researchers from Loughborough University investigated what our coaches are able to achieve for the young people they work with and the whole school environment. The research was robustly peer reviewed by volunteering charity Pro Bono Economics and we thank them, along with NHS England for their support of this project.
The scoping study examined stakeholder views of the impact of Greenhouse Sports, identifying how and why the programmes work in schools, along with better ways of demonstrating the impact. It will be used to inform further research.
