No Sidelines: Sport for Development with Marginalised Youth in the UK and Australia

Join us for a panel discussion bringing together practitioners and academics to explore how sport is being used as a tool for development with young people from marginalised backgrounds in the UK and Australia. This event has been organised by Drs Robyn Smith & Caron Walpole (SSEHS) in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development and the IAS.

The panel will draw on lived experience, place‑based practice, and research‑informed evidence to examine the role of sport in supporting youth wellbeing, social inclusion, and crime prevention across diverse contexts. Through comparative perspectives, speakers will reflect on what works and what does not, in engaging young people, building relationships, and co‑producing impactful programmes, as well as the challenges and possibilities of cross‑sector collaboration in sport for development initiatives.

Panel speakers include:

Marial Machar: Churchill Fellow & Founder of Rams Sport Group. Marial founded and leads a successful sport for development programme in Australia focused on supporting the wellbeing and aspirations of diverse young people.

Dr Caron Walpole: Translation Lead – Health, Wellbeing and Sport in SSEHS (youth sport & crime prevention).

Chantelle Nice: New Bury Boxing & Violence Reduction Alliance Facilitator at Bolton CVS.

Dr Robyn Smith: Vice-Chancellor Independent Research Fellow in SSEHS (youth sport, wellbeing, and social inclusion)

This panel discussion aims to spark dialogue and knowledge exchange between researchers, practitioners, and students, highlighting shared challenges and lessons across contexts.

The session will include:

Short presentations from panellists
Discussion & Q&A
Coffee and informal conversation will follow.

Arrivals from 9.45am for a 10am start.