Assistance to social enterprises
Researchers from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh are supporting two local Social Enterprise companies, Street Soccer (Scotland) Ltd and Pro Poor Sports Ltd, to establish an evaluation framework to measure the positive impact sport and physical activity can have on individuals, communities and the economy.
Sport has the power to dramatically change people's lives for the better - the two social enterprises aim to use sport to tackle social exclusion, thereby improving the lives of a range of socially disadvantaged groups.
With regular grassroots coaching and mentoring, as well as regular matches between teams representing various communities throughout Scotland, Street Soccer Scotland aims to provide a fundamental source of purpose, motivation and pride for participants and produce a positive impact on society as a whole.
Queen Margaret University's research and business support will provide these enterprises with a model to underpin the value and impact of their sector. This will facilitate a long-term relationship between the partners, supported by joint funding applications, tendering and an anticipated roll-out of the framework across the sector. The academic team will draw on perspectives and methods from the social sciences, applied to policy research within healthcare and within social and economic contexts.