A Realist Evaluation of Greenhouse Sports Secondary School programmes

Sport is widely appealing to young people, especially those considered “hard-to-reach” (e.g., from areas of disadvantaged; not in education, employment, or training). Sport is also recognised as a unique setting through which we can support young people’s psychological, social, and emotional learning, as well as support the development and transfer of a broad range of life skills. Specifically, sport participation offers numerous chances for young people to encounter various situations which challenge their ability to cope and adapt. Such challenges can foster personal growth and positive adaptation if they are paired with appropriate support, helping young people to develop essential coping skills and rebound from setbacks.

This perspective on the potential of sport aligns to a Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach. Rather than focusing on problems or issues, PYD focuses on supporting young people’s healthy development through focusing on their strengths, assets and potential with a view to prepare them for a successful transition to adulthood. PYD programmes, particularly when delivered through sport, have proven to positively influence life skill development (e.g. teamwork, leadership, confident and communication skills) as well as a wide range of other outcomes such as improved wellbeing, academic engagement and attainment, reduction in risky behaviours, enhanced employment and civic engagement.

Greenhouse Sports is a sport for development charity, which – drawing on PYD principles - intentionally uses sport to strive for social change outcomes. Sport is used as a hook to engage young people and one of the vehicles through which they support youth development. Through sport and mentoring, alongside additional activities, they create opportunities for young people to recognise their strengths and develop the psychological and social skills needed to thrive. Greenhouse Sports explicitly and purposefully works with young people living in areas of high deprivation because young people living in such areas face a wide range of interconnected challenges that impact their education, health, opportunities and overall wellbeing.

This fully funded PhD project in collaboration with Greenhouse Sports will aim to evaluate their Secondary School Programme, which draws on a PYD approach utilising sport to bring about social change outcomes for the young people they work with. In particular, the PhD will explore the impacts and outcomes achieved by the programme, as well as how the impacts and outcomes are brought about.

The fully funded nature of the PhD means the successful candidate will receive a stipend in line with UKRI guidelines and their UK fees will be covered for 3 years. We are looking for a student that would feel comfortable in a school environment, particularly working with young people from socio-economically deprived backgrounds. You will not be expected to work within the school, but at certain times throughout the PhD, it is likely that the student will spend significant time within the school context. The PhD will focus on the Leicester based provision, with occasional travel to London. The student will be expected, with the support of their supervisory team, to regularly engage and share learning with Greenhouse Sports, meaning the PhD offers a real opportunity to not only gain academic expertise but also generate real world impact.

We are interested in receiving 1500-word research proposals that reflect your scientific interest and academic skills outlining your perspectives on conducting an evaluation that would allow you to explore how the ‘Greenhouse Secondary Schools Programme’ works, for whom and under what conditions.

This PhD is only open to applicants who meet the UK fees category. Interviews will take place on Tuesday the 16^th of June and/or Wednesday the 17^th of June

Supervisory team

1) Dr. Fieke Rongen (Fieke.Rongen02@ntu.ac.uk)

2) Dr. Julie Johnston (Julie.Johnston@ntu.ac.uk)

3) Prof. Chris Harwood (Chris.Harwood@ntu.ac.uk)

4) Prof. Camilla Knight (Camilla.Knight@greenhousesports.org)