Improving Participation (OCR GCSE Physical Education (PE)): Revision Note

Strategies to improve participation

• There are several key strategies to improve participation categorised into:

  • promotion

  • provision

  • access

Promotion

• This means actively encouraging or publicising to increase awareness

• Local promotion and advertising play an important part of educating people of the opportunities that exist around them

  • People cannot participate in sporting activities that they are unaware of

  • By showing the benefits of regular participation and encourage more people to take part in physical activity

• Nationally, media coverage produces role models and provides inspiration for others

  • Increase media coverage of women's sport, ethnic minority sport and disability sport

  • More role models, especially women, BAME and disability sports stars

  • Improve advertising of sessions/activities in the local area and media

  • Improve advertising of campaigns and promotions such as free swimming for over 50s age group

• Examples include campaigns such as:

  • 'This Girl Can' by Sport England to raise female participation

  • 'We Are Undefeatable' by Sport England to inspiring those with a long-term health condition to build physical activity into their lives

  • 'Let's Move!' is a new campaign tackling the decline in children's activity levels, aiming to get families active together all year round

Provision

• This is what is provided, supplied or arranged

• Ensuring the right facilities, equipment and coaching for all groups of people are available

• Provision is usually strongly linked to funding which can come from the media, sponsorship, local authorities or other organisations such as Sport England.

• Improved provision can look like:

  • Increasing the time for PE on the National Curriculum for schools

    • currently a minimum of two hours per week

  • Increase opportunities for women's sport, minority sport and disability sport

    • women only sessions, Kabaddi, wheelchair basketball

  • Run sessions for specific groups

    • for example fitness for Over 50s and Seniors over or women only

  • Plan the timing of sessions to target certain groups

    • for example for parents with young children put on mid-morning sessions after the school run

  • Provide creche facilities to run alongside activity sessions

  • Provide facilities that are easy to get to and cater for the community needs

Access

• Different groups have different access requirements which should be catered for so that everyone is able to have actively engage with physical activity and sport

• Access requirements also includes feeling safe, comfortable and welcome in an inclusive environment

• This can be achieved by:

  • Ensuring their are local facilities available and that these are affordable

    • reduced charges for certain groups, for example unemployed, student and senior rates

  • Providing public transport, adequate carparking, safe cycling/walking routes or any free or specialist transport available

  • Making facilities more accessible to all for example ramps and wider doors for wheelchair access

  • The availability to hire equipment that is adapted for age/disability, for example hoists for swimming pool access

  • Allow alternative dress codes to reduce religious/cultural discrimination

  • Adapt sports on offer to make them more accessible

    • E.g. walking football, football golf, aqua aerobic, pickleball, boccia

These strategies are achieved by a number of agencies: