What do we do?
The Sports Impact Lab aims to inspire, educate and further a greater sense of belonging in our world. We do this by empowering our students to create innovative programmes that use sports to promote education, equity, and well-being for diverse communities.
Why we do this?
The United Nations has identified sports as a cost-effective tool to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In local and global contexts, this tool is both effective and inspiring. The Sports Impact Lab offers an exciting opportunity for the University, local and global stakeholders to show their commitment to reducing inequalities and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Sports Impact Lab has four main objectives:
- Foster relationships between Oxford University and its local communities.
- Improve educational attainment and aspiration of local primary students.
- Develop a syllabus that explores the interconnectedness of academia and sports.
- Promote the importance of mental health and physical wellbeing for sustainable communities.
"We are very excited to be working with the University to offer rowing to local youngsters as part of a programme to open up the club to its local community and bring some much-needed diversity to British rowing."
Tim Baker, Falcon Rowing Club Community Outreach Officer
Our Impact
Even though Oxford is home to one of the world's best universities, the city also contains pockets of significant childhood poverty. These areas are among the most disadvantaged in England. This divide means unequal access to quality education, health resources, and opportunities for growth.
The Sports Impact Lab helps to reduce inequality in Oxford by working with local schools, sports teams, and businesses. It uses the resources and commitment of Oxford University and community partners to improve the lives and opportunities of children throughout our community. The Lab's flagship programme has developed an innovative curriculum that combines sports and academics. Our Fellows use this curriculum to make pathways for our underprivileged youth. These pathways improve access to good academic and physical education while developing chances to grow important life skills.
Our flagship programme engaged children from three schools over six weeks at Oxford University. Each week, these Year 8 pupils would spend a day trying out a new sport, having lunch in a college and participating in an inspiring educational workshop connecting sport to an academic subject.
"Working with Oxford University on the sports programme has been a real gift to our school. Seeing our pupils race the ‘Bannister Mile’ was on of my best days as a teacher "
Get Involved!
By empowering youth through sports we have the potential to create lasting positive change within the Oxford community and beyond. In the future, we hope to use this platform to further our global impact. Get in Touch to join us in this unique opportunity to address local and global inequalities throughout our global community!
This programme is supported by the University of Oxford’s ESRC Impact Acceleration Account