Inequalities, diversity and community sport – evidence-led policy for transforming opportunities and engagement

Sport and physical activity can make a significant contribution to improving human health and happiness. However, there are stark differences in activity levels and sport participation between certain population groups. There is a need for rigorous and systematic mixed methods work on understanding social inequalities and participation that could underpin effective intervention design and policy-making in the community sport sector.

The aim of this research is to examine the relationships between inequalities and community sport participation for understanding active lives, differences, and diversity.

There are three broad objectives:

(1) to analyze inequalities (and their intersections) and community sport participation using relevant data sets,

(2) to conduct targeted follow-up work on inequalities and community sport participation to understand how we can feasibly and acceptably intervene with whom and in what contexts, and

(3) to develop a conceptual approach and theory of change on inequality and community sport participation that can be used for effective decision and policy making in the sports sector.

The study design will be mixed methods and could include secondary data analysis of large-scale data sets, primary qualitative data collection with targeted participant groups, and intervention design employing coproduction strategies. We are seeking candidates with expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods. Disciplinary backgrounds in economics, sociology, social psychology, geography, political science, and human geography are particularly relevant.

About the Partner

Sport England is a non-departmental body of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport and getting more people physically active across England.

The role of Sport England in this project will include provision of a collaborative working culture to enable the Doctoral Researcher to access data; provision of appropriate policy-related mentoring, and access to relevant training, key meetings and knowledge exchange opportunities; support for the Doctoral Researcher’s experience of the translation and application of research and analysis in a policy organisation / setting; and contribution to relevant advice / supervision in support of the programme of Doctoral Research.

Eligibility

The PhD studentship will be funded by the Grand Union DTP for an expected 3 years (or part-time equivalent) from October 2023. The award length offered may differ depending on the candidate’s prior training and how they meet ESRC training requirements.

Information about Grand Union DTP ESRC studentships and eligibility can be found on the Grand Union DTP website.

How to apply

To apply for the studentship you must submit:

A Grand Union DTP Application form, downloadable from: https://www.granduniondtp.ac.uk/how-apply#tab-1440826
2000-word research proposal including references. Your proposal can draw on the description of the research detailed above.
Two written references should have a good knowledge of your academic record to date and your plans for the research project. They should be in a position to judge your suitability and preparedness for doctoral study. Only one of your two referees can be a member of your proposed (or actual) supervisory team. You may ask the supervisor of your Masters's dissertation to be one of your referees.

References must include: The referee’s name and their relationship to you and comment on your previous performance/achievements

Your up-to-date CV;
Your single A4 page single-spaced personal statement setting out why you are interested in undertaking this project;
Your degree certificate(s) and transcript(s);
Evidence of your English language capability to IELTS 7.0 or equivalent, if appropriate;
Completed Equal Opportunities form

Please email all completed documents to Emma.Smith@brunel.ac.uk with the subject header –Wellbeing ESRC CDA Studentship application

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Nana Anokye - Nana is the Director of Division of Global Public Health at the Department of Health Sciences within the College of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences. Nana's work on Economics of Physical Activity has been used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to formulate three national public health guidelines on exercise referral schemes, and brief advice for adults in primary care. He has quantified how time and money prices influence behaviour change. Having won the Walduck Prize for Research Impact, Nana’s work further secured prestigious UK Department of Health funding to conduct the first ever English general population survey on the economics of physical activity. His interests in public health are wide-ranging. How primary care can improve health outcomes; whether financial incentives improve maternal and child health; and what the link between shopping vouchers and breastfeeding may be, are some of the public health questions Nana is keen to answer. As an ardent gym goer himself, his quest for knowledge led him to investigate whether physical activity was any more independent from sedentary behaviour. Nana is Chair of ISPAH LMIC Council and a member of the Africa Research Excellence Fund (AREF) College of Experts. As Institute of Leadership and Management certified coach and mentor and a former broadcast journalist, Nana is passionate about communicating research and supporting research careers through podcasts – the Research Life, which he co-founded with colleagues. Nana has a PhD in Health Economics (Brunel), an MSc in Environmental Resources Management from Brandenburg University of Technology (Germany) and, a BA in Economics and Sociology from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana). Google Profile ResearchGate Orcid LinkedIn

Louise Mansfield - Career History Louise Mansfield is Professor of Sport, Health and Social Sciences and Research Lead for Welfare, Health and Wellbeing in the Institute of Environment, Health and Societies. Her research focuses on the relationship between sport, physical activity and public health and wellbeing. She is interested in partnership and community approaches in sport and physical activity and issues of health, wellbeing, inequality and diversity. She has led research projects for the Department of Health, Youth Sport Trust, sportscotland, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, Macmillan Cancer Support, Public Health England and Sport England. She sits on the editorial boards for Leisure Studies, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health and the International Review for the Sociology of Sport and is Managing Editor of Annals of Leisure Research. Louise is known for is known for developing evidence to inform policy and practice.