Supporting Positive Youth Development During a Global Pandemic: An Evaluation of the Fresh Start Through Sport Pilot Programme

In October 2020, Ulster University (UU) was commissioned by the Irish Football Association (IFA) on behalf of the Department for Communities to conduct an evaluation of the Fresh Start Through Sport (FSTS) pilot programme across three phases. The core research team consisted of Dr Brendan Coyle, Dr Conor Murray, Dr Gavin Breslin, and Dr Colm Walsh. The evaluation was assisted by public agencies, community organisations, the IFA and their sporting partners – Belfast Giants, Ulster Rugby, and the GAA. They provided advice on the direction of the evaluation and participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. Young people that participated in the Fresh Start Through Sport programme also assisted the evaluation by sharing their experiences in focus groups and semi-structured interviews.

This report examines each of these objectives and, in order to facilitate maximal impact, it highlights numerous examples of good practice and recommendations for further consideration. Many issues discussed in this report also have wider implications beyond Northern Ireland, and it is hoped that relevant stakeholders and scholars in other parts of the world will find it useful.