The Sport for Development Coalition has published its first annual report to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the #OpenGoal framework. The #OpenGoal framework was officially launched on 6 April 2022, which each year marks the UN’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
The 20-page report provides an overview of the Coalition’s activities over the past year. Its membership includes nearly 400 charities, organizations, and networks across the UK that use sport and physical activity to address health and societal inequalities. The Coalition is supported by Sport England, Comic Relief, and Laureus Sport for Good.
Thru Life joined the Coalition as a member in 2022. It is part of the People Working Group whose goal is to ensure that those closest to the beneficiaries and those who support them are planned, managed, and developed to lead and deliver across the sector.
The report highlights the positive outcomes achieved by Coalition members, including: improved health and wellbeing, closing the gap in education and development, increased employability and skills, reduced crime and anti-social behaviour, stronger communities and social cohesion.
It also provides an overview of the recent Youth Justice Sport Fund led by StreetGames and the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice, and explains the vital role of sport for development in tackling climate change.
The report was showcased on 6 April 2023 on a live blog on the Coalition’s website. Coalition members marked the anniversary by sharing their work online and across social media using the hashtag #OpenGoal.
The report invites charities and organizations using sport for development to join the Coalition’s Collective Action by joining the Movement and signing up to its Charter.
