At Sport England, collaboration and learning are at the heart of what we do.
That’s why we’re excited to share the highlights from the recent interim evaluation of our investment into system partners – the Learning Synthesis report – a document that offers valuable insights and lessons for organisations tackling inequalities through system change.
In short, our system partner investment is a new approach that’s aligned with our Uniting the Movement strategy by committing over £500 million since 2022 to more than 120 partners.
This long-term funding provides up to five years of financial security and stability for organisations to focus on addressing the systemic changes needed to tackle the inequalities stopping individuals and communities from being physically active.
Learning together – why this report matters
It’s important to highlight that this investment by Sport England is about more than funding. It’s about building a movement for change and the Learning Synthesis report is key in this mission.
The report was conducted by Ipsos, New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) and Sheffield Hallam University, and it sheds light on what’s working and where challenges remain within the sector.
But it goes beyond that by posing questions – and presenting answers – about how we can work together to tackle inequalities so everyone can enjoy the benefits of being active.
What we’ve learned so far
The result? Insights that are key for our work at Sport England and for critical points of reflection to anyone striving to make a difference through systemic change at local or national level.
Some of the main findings of the report are:
Overcoming challenges to collaboration is key
System partners build partnerships with diverse stakeholders – from local councils to schools and community groups – that create a more cohesive and integrated approach to system change.
We know that Uniting the Movement has provided a framework for building trust and encouraging alignment and shared goals, but we also know that collaborative working takes time, and that this is often hindered by financial constraints, recruitment challenges and cultural barriers.
These obstacles are further exacerbated by political and leadership changes, which can disrupt momentum and require the continual rebuilding and realignment of relationships.
Change champions make a difference
System partners have found that identifying and engaging local champions can accelerate system change as these often hold the keys to unlocking new opportunities and relationships.
It is important for us and our system partners to think strategically about how we can influence the system, through engaging with these individuals and groups moving forwards, and how we can best identify them within our communities, places and/or organisations.
Quantitative and qualitative data together tell the full story
While numbers are important, stories and case studies provide rich context for understanding our impact and uncovering learnings about why things work, for whom and in what context.
We need to tackle the ongoing challenges within the system, where qualitative data is not valued as it is difficult to track and evaluate over time.
Learning from challenges
System partners recognise that system change isn’t easy. Barriers like language, staff turnover, strategic planning and the complexity of demonstrating impact are very real. But recognising these hurdles allows us to address them head-on with a mindset of learning and growth.
Looking ahead – building on these learnings
As an organisation, Sport England is on a journey to reshape its relationship with its partners and develop a more relational approach to working together to tackle inequalities in physical activity.
