UKSDN Conference - Sport and Social Justice: if not now, when?

UK Sport Development Network in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University, Active Humber, CIMPSA, North Yorkshire Sport, Yorkshire Sport Foundation and StreetGames present:

Sport and Social Justice: if not now, when?

7th & 8th September 2022 IN PERSON

Leeds Beckett University, Headingley Campus, Carnegie School of Sport Building

Price: Employed - £195. Unemployed/Student/Voluntary Organisations – £115 TBC

In September 2022, Leeds Beckett marks the 25th anniversary of introducing sport development as an academic discipline. We are proud to have contributed to the sphere of sport development and excited to host the next edition of the UK Sports Development Network conference.

The late 1970’s saw the launch of the Sport Council’s first campaign: “Sport for All’ and subsequently the birth of Sport Development. Over 40 years on, despite a substantial investment of public funding into sport and numerous campaigns aiming to bring about social justice through sport, the figures suggest that these disparities persist.

Fast forward, to the acute issues emanating from Covid-19, the pandemic has added its weight to further imbalance opportunities in sport. The conversations were kicked off last year through our online convention which included presentations from key academics and key practitioners in the following areas: Sport and Poverty, Sport and Climate Change, Sport and Racial Inequalities and Sport and Long-Term Health Conditions. As promised, through this 2 day conference, we must revisit the question:

Are we on a precipice of making things better, or allowing things to get worse?

More than ever as a sector, we must bring about change. Now is the time.

Critical thinking. Critical Action.

Thought and action require collaboration. The event will bring together sport development practitioners and academics and provide a space for attendees to address a number

issues and areas.

The purpose of this event is to offer an inclusive space for people to contribute their experiences, reflections and projects, in both practical and academic manner. We encourage those looking for continuing professional development opportunities, students and early career researchers looking to present for the first time, and established researchers and practitioners to share and showcase their work.

Speakers from industry and academia will present with a view to generating debate and discussion with an engaged audience. The event and contributions will be broken down in to four key areas:

1. Developing the workforce

2. Strengthening communities

3. Connecting with health and wellbeing

4. Planning and placemaking

Our key areas are informed by the current priorities set out in the varying publications at national level, including UK Government, Sport Wales, Sport Scotland, Sport England, and Sport Northern Ireland.

Host or Publisher Carnegie School of Sport