SIRC research and consultancy services
- performance management
- major events
- elite sport
- volunteers in sport
- economics of sport and recreation
- sports participation
Sports participation
Sports participation is housed within the parent disciplines of economics and demand. Research from our Sport Market Forecasts publication consistently demonstrates that the overall value of the sport market is driven by the level of participation in sport. People taking part in sport fuel a demand for clothing, equipment, facility fees, travel and other related expenditure.
In 2004 the sport market was valued at £18.7 billion or 2 per cent of the UK's Gross Domestic Product. The Sport Industry Research Centre has been at the heart of the debate surrounding the benefits of sport and physical activity, helping national agencies who have been tasked with increasing participation rates, managing surveys and research into sport participation at both regional and national levels and evaluating the impact of initiatives to increase participation.
Senior staff from SIRC acted as consultant advisers to the Department for Culture Media and Sport for the two large scale surveys started in 2005, namely 'Taking Part' and 'Active People'.
Our expertise in sports participation data extends beyond the UK and in 1999 SIRC was the lead research agency in the COMPASS project, a project seeking the co-ordinated monitoring of participation in sports in Europe.
SIRC has fulfilled several projects evaluating policy initiatives to increase sports participation. These evaluations combine quantitative data collection with innovative qualitative methods.
Key clients
- Sport England
- Sheffield City Council
- Staffordshire County Council
- Sports Council for Northern Ireland
- Amateur Swimming Association
Projects
An evaluation of the Sport Legacy pilot programme of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, 2007/08
An evaluation of the Extending Activities pilot for Sport England, 2008
Evaluation of the Sport Unlimited programme for Sport England, 2008-2011
An evaluation of Sport England's pilot Everyday Sport campaign in the North East region
Leisure in Salford's performance against its Local Public Service Agreement 2002-2005
An evaluation of the pilot Community Sport Programme in Northern Ireland, for SCNI
Monitoring and Evaluation of the Sport England/ASA Everyday Swim Project
Publications
Leisure forecasts annual, since 1996
Sport Market forecasts annual, since 2001
Compass Report
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