In September 2007 the University of Gloucestershire embarked on a unique venture with Active Gloucestershire that brought together the two organisations in a learning-based partnership. Through this partnership two PhD research students, Colin Baker and Christopher Owens, are being funded to undertake sport and physical activity-based research with a local and national interest. The partnership presents opportunities to develop knowledge concerning how best to share skills, information, and academic rigour, and how this may be attuned to the needs of community organisations.
Chris completed an MSc by Research at the University of Gloucestershire in 2007; ‘A qualitative investigation into the place and promotion of wellbeing for service users within mental health services: a case study of Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust’.
Chris is now investigating sport and physical activity participation and sedentarism among adolescents during the transition from completing compulsory education and entering further education, employment or unemployment. Given the lack of evidence in this area, a population-based longitudinal design has been employed with a large cohort of Year 11 pupils in secondary schools across Gloucestershire (n = 2,204). Data has been collected by administering a questionnaire to each adolescent at baseline (in Year 11) and at follow-up (in further education, employment or unemployment). Data collection has now been completed and approximately 850 of the baseline cohort have completed the questionnaire at both time points. The findings will follow in due course and will provide a clearer picture of sport and physical activity participation among adolescents in Gloucestershire during this important transitional period.
Colin completed the (UoG) Physical Activity and Health Development taught Masters Degree programme in 2007.
His PhD research is investigating Community Sports Networks from an organisational perspective to better understand community sport and active recreation partnerships. These are fundamental components of Sport England’s strategy for increasing and sustaining participation in sport and physical activity in England. Given their short history there is limited understanding of their role in bringing together local partners to address the needs of communities. Colin’s study will apply measures of partnership process and function through a nationwide survey of CSNs (n = 250) and local case studies (n = 6), with the aim of establishing a more coherent evidence base concerning the practical day-to-day realities of sport and physical activity partnerships.
12th February 2009