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 9:45 am for a 10:00 am start.
This event is hybrid format, please use the required booking button at the bottom of the page to choose either in-person or online attendance.
(Please note that in-person spaces are limited and booking is required, so we can manage numbers for the space in the seminar room)
By booking a place at this event, attendees agree to behave in a respectful manner such that everyone feels comfortable contributing as they wish. The IAS reserves the right to eject anyone who does not abide by this policy.
IAS seminars are typically recorded, minus any Q&A sessions at the end, again to encourage contributions. The recordings are then uploaded to our website on a Fellows bio page and/or Programme page, along with our IAS YouTube Channel. If you are not able to attend a seminar live, please do still register as we will email everyone who registered to let them know once the recordings are made available.
Contact and booking details
- Email address
- ias@lboro.ac.uk
- Cost
- Free
- Booking required?
- Yes