Beyond Horizons desktop research findings from other countries report

DESKTOP RESEARCH: FINDINGS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction............................................................................................................. 3 2. Scope and objectives............................................................................................. 3 3. Research limitations............................................................................................... 4 4. Research Findings.................................................................................................. 5 Information on programmes...................................................................................... 7 Barriers........................................................................................................................ 7 Solutions...................................................................................................................... 8 5. Conclusion............................................................................................................... 9 Appendix 1................................................................................................................... 10 Appendix 2.................................................................................................................. 11

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

1. Introduction BEYOND HORIZONS The purpose of this project is to share and promote good practices on the topic of inclusion and outdoor sports for young people at risk of marginalization: school dropouts, living in priority education areas, isolated rural areas, or migrants, in the post-covid context. The aim of the three-year project is to achieve a higher-performing practices and a more inclusive culture in the outdoor sports sector.

Some groups facing social inclusion are often less physically active than other groups, they are also less often in contact with nature. This is particularly true for children and adolescents (girls and boys) exposed to marginalization. Professionals and volunteers working with these groups do not yet have a space for sharing knowledge and experiences at the European level. Knowledge on the subject is fragmented and sectorized or restricted to a given geographical or cultural areas.

There is wealth of good practices among Outdoor sports organisations. Stakeholders in the field of Outdoor sports are aware of the issues of integration and inclusion for society and of the role they can play in this matter, because of their specific characteristics, their adaptability and the benefits they induce. It was however observed, during the ENOS inclusive outdoors webinar in June 2021 that the available knowledge is fragmented and sectorized or restricted to a given geographical or cultural area. Outdoor sports organisations, education professionals and volunteers engaging with these groups would benefit shared space for knowledge exchange at the European level.

In Europe, one in three people do less than 30 minutes of physical activity per week, while one in six deaths is caused by inactivity. Young people from minorities facing exclusion are particularly at risk.

Outdoor sports offer a wide range of opportunities for individuals of all ages, social or economic backgrounds and abilities; they have few limits to participation and are ideal for providing lifelong physical activity. At the same time, these activities can be difficult to access because of geographical, technical, and often social barriers. This project aims try to explore how to overcome some of these barriers, especially in the context of marginalized youth.

2. Scope and objectives This document specifies the scope the desktop research element of Work Package 2 in the Beyond Horizons project and details the research findings. The aim of the desktop research is to identify the barriers and issues in partners’ own countries/sectors for disadvantaged young people to participate in outdoor sports and any associated good practice and solutions. The desktop research was broken down into 3 steps Step 1: Website Review of Federations and Governing Bodies The initial step involves a review of websites belonging to federations and governing bodies to gather useful information on the barriers and solutions to engaging youths in outdoor sports. The sports and activities to be covered in this research include:

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Adventure racing Canyoning Caving Cycling (including MTB and E-bike) Dog sledding Hang gliding / Paragliding Hiking Mountaineering Orienteering Snow sports Step 2: Review on Youth Organisations This step focussed on youth organisations, education centres and other organisations that support youth engagement. It involved reviewing websites of clubs, education authorities or other organisations in the partner countries. It also involved conversations (face to face, online or by telephone) with organisations known by the partner to be delivering programmes for disadvantaged young people.

Step 3: Research for Other EU and Non-EU Countries This step involved partners having to complete this research for another EU country and one other nonEU country.

This report will detail the findings from Step 3 above. A initial report has been developed for Step 1 and 2.

3. Research limitations During this desktop research, several limitations were identified that impacted the findings from the partners. One major limitation is the lack of a unified structure across countries. The outdoor sports and activities investigated are not uniformly structured under a single sport federation in all partner countries. Instead, these activities are often managed by a variety of organizations, sport clubs, and outdoor associations. In other cases, some of the activities in scope for this project, do not have a governing body in all countries.

The focus areas of many federations also presented a challenge in the research. National federations often concentrate primarily on regulation, safety, and competition arrangements rather than grassroots participation and inclusion initiatives. This misalignment in focus areas means that some of the federations' websites did not highlight relevant programs targeting youth and marginalized groups.

Furthermore, local sport clubs, which are often members of these federations, are more directly involved in hands-on work with youth and inclusion. However, the sheer volume and geographical dispersion of these clubs make it impractical to conduct a thorough review across numerous countries and sports activities.

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Additionally, the limited information available on some federations' websites further complicated the research. Some websites contain very sparse details about their youth engagement and inclusion efforts. This lack of online documentation does not necessarily indicate a lack of activity but rather reflects poor online documentation, making it difficult to gather and assess relevant data. The extent and quality of documentation vary widely among federations. Some may have robust internal programs that are not well-publicized online, leading to underreporting of successful initiatives.

Another significant limitation is the inconsistent presence of national governing bodies on social media.

Not all of these bodies have active social media accounts, which hampers the ability to gather comprehensive details on programs and determine the target demographics for these initiatives through social media analysis. Even among those with social media accounts, the level of detail and engagement varies widely. Some organizations provide extensive information, while others offer minimal insights, leading to an inconsistent data set.

As we were looking at federations in other EU and non EU countries, language became a limitation.

Research across multiple countries involves navigating different languages and some useful information may be lost or misinterpreted during translation, leading to incomplete or inaccurate findings. Partners also had to relay on the information online as local sources were not easily accessible or available.

Finally, the scope and depth of the research present inherent limitations. Covering a wide range of countries and sports means that the research may sacrifice depth for breadth. The time available for conducting this desktop research was limited, and comprehensive analysis was not feasible for this section of work.

4. Research Findings As mentioned above, this report will detail the findings from the federations and governing bodies from 9 other EU countries (i.e. not partner countries) and 9 non-EU countries.

There are 9 partners in the project, however some partners are located in the same country. In this instance, partners shared the review of work. The partner countries are the following: 1. Australia 2. Belgium 3. Canada 4. Chile 5. Czech Republic 6. Finland 7. Germany 8. Iceland 9. Italy 10. New Zealand 11. Poland 12. Portugal 13. Serbia 14. Slovenia 15. South Africa 16. Spain 17. Switzerland 18. USA

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It is worth noting that one partner, KTH, did more detailed research on barriers and solutions which is embedded below in research findings.

Within the research template, each partner looked at 9 different sections for each of the activities.

These sections were: 1. Information on youth programmes 2. information on disadvantaged young people 3. Barriers detailed 4. Target Group 5. Solutions identified to barriers 6. Webpage on youths info 7. Info on social media for youths 8. Who do they target with social media 9. Rating By determining the above, we were able to assess what information was available on line in relation to barriers and solutions to participation for youth and also deem if the sport was perceived as inclusive to youth by reviewing their information available and the imagery used on social media.

From the partner organisations, 88 federations were identified for the 10 activities across the 18 countries. These are shown in the chart below.

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Information on programmes

Out of the 88 federations and governing bodies reviewed, 52 provided information indicating that they deliver youth programs. Within this subset, 17 had information on disadvantaged youths, and 39 had dedicated web pages for youth engagement. However, only 23 organisations explicitly stated that youths are a primary target group for their programs. The quality and comprehensiveness of the information varied significantly across these organisations. Many of them did not provide detailed descriptions of their programs and tended to focus primarily on competitive events.

Regarding social media presence, the findings were similarly varied. Of the 88 federations, only 37 included information about youth programs on their social media platforms. Furthermore, just 27 of these actively targeted youths or disadvantaged groups through their social media content, using appropriate imagery and information. The remaining federations predominantly featured content related to competitions, high-performance athletes, and adult participants, indicating a gap in youth-focused communication.

Barriers A lot of the barriers identified in the research into other EU and Non-EU countries are similar to the barriers identified in step 1 and 2 of the research. To avoid duplication of information, detailed descriptions and examples of these barriers can be viewed in the supporting document. This document provides a comprehensive overview of the common challenges faced, such as limited access to facilities, financial constraints, cultural and social barriers, and the shortage of qualified leaders, and offers insights into the specific contexts and nuances of these issues across different regions.

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Solutions In addition to the solutions identified in steps 1 and 2 of the research, several other effective strategies were highlighted in researching other countries. These solutions offer further insights and suggestions that could be implemented in the toolkit to enhance participation in outdoor sports among marginalized youth.

Creation of Youth Commissions Establishing youth commissions dedicated to outdoor sports that provide a structured platform for young people to voice their needs, participate in decision-making, and contribute to program development. These commissions help ensure that youth perspectives are integral to the planning and execution of sports initiatives.

Funding for Facilities and Transport Securing funds specifically for renting facilities and transporting participants significantly reduced financial barriers to participation. This approach ensures that logistical challenges do not prevent disadvantaged youth from accessing outdoor sports activities.

Highlighting the Benefits of Sport Campaigns that emphasize the physical, mental, and social benefits of participating in outdoor sports that motivate more youth to get involved. Showcasing success stories and positive outcomes have helped change perceptions and encourage broader participation.

Phased Development Plans Creating phased development plans that focus on integrating outdoor sports education into school curricula and youth programs. This strategy ensures that young people are introduced to outdoor activities in a structured manner that builds their skills and confidence over time.

Youth Meets, Summits, and Commissions Organizing youth meets and summits that foster a sense of community and provide opportunities for young people to network, share experiences, and collaborate on initiatives. These events also serve as platforms for discussing barriers and brainstorming solutions.

National Development Plans with a Focus on Youth Developing comprehensive national development plans that prioritize youth involvement in outdoor sports. These plans include clear goals, strategies, and resources dedicated to increasing youth participation and ensuring inclusivity.

Opportunities to Connect with Nature Programs that emphasize the importance of connecting with nature that appeal to youth by highlighting the unique experiences and benefits of outdoor sports.

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Safety Resources Providing comprehensive safety resources and training that address concerns about risks and hazards associated with outdoor sports. Ensuring that participants are well-informed and prepared can increase their confidence and willingness to engage in these activities.

Organizing Trail Adventures Trail adventures that offer benefits such as stress relief, team building, and digital detox opportunities that attract youth by providing unique and meaningful experiences. These adventures help participants disconnect from technology, build relationships, and reconnect with themselves and nature.

Volunteer Training Programs Implementing training programs for volunteers that expand the pool of qualified leaders and mentors in outdoor sports. Well-trained volunteers can provide valuable support, guidance, and encouragement to young participants, enhancing the overall experience and safety of the activities.

5. Conclusion The examination of barriers and solutions identified in other EU and non-EU countries has revealed that many of the challenges are consistent across different regions, including limited access to facilities, financial constraints, cultural and social barriers, and a shortage of qualified leaders. However, additional innovative solutions were also uncovered, such as the creation of youth commissions, dedicated funding for facility rental and participant transport, phased development plans focusing on education, and national development strategies prioritizing youth.

These additional insights provide a richer understanding of effective practices that can be adapted and incorporated into the toolkit. By integrating these diverse solutions, the toolkit will offer a comprehensive set of resources and actionable steps to help stakeholders overcome barriers and enhance inclusivity in outdoor sports for youths. This approach ensures that the toolkit is not only grounded in a broad base of evidence but also flexible enough to address specific regional and contextual challenges, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and accessible sports environment for marginalized youth across Europe and beyond.

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APPENDIX 1 List of partners and countries researched

Partner

Other EU Country

Non- EU Country

European Network Of Outdoor Sports

Portugal

South Africa

Sport Ireland

Poland

Australia

International Sport And Culture Association

Spain

Chile

Länsstyrelsen Västernorrland

Iceland

Slovenia

Protect Our Winters

Germany

USA

En Passant Par La Montagne

Italy

Switzerland

Creps Rhone-Alpes

Czech Republic

Serbia

Nord- Troms Friluftsråd

Finland

New Zealand

Cykelfrämjandet

Belgium

Canada

Kungliga Tekniska Hoegskolan

*Detailed research into barriers and solutions

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APPENDIX 2 Full table of findings

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.