2023 Evaluation of SSF Cash Back for Communities

This report highlights findings from an evaluation carried out by researchers at the University of the West of Scotland during the period 2022/23. The evaluation was carried out on behalf of Scottish Sports Futures (SSF) as a part of their successful Cashback for Communities 2020 – 2023 Phase 5 bid. This report shows the findings from their final year of delivery 2022/2023.

Four programmes were to be evaluated as part of the SSF Cashback bid:
• Shell Twilight, a multi-sport diversionary project,
• SSF Chance:2:Be, a referral based personal development programme,
• Education Through Cashback (ETC), an accredited programme building skills with practitioners and young people in sports and,
• SSF Young leaders, a volunteering programme that helps young people gain accreditations and volunteer in their communities and in sports.

A multi-method, multi-site research design was adopted that included both participants and practitioners. A qualitative approach was applied that included interviews, focus groups, peer-elicitation interviews, mapping focus groups, WhatsApp diaries and the training of 5 peer researchers. In addition, a documentary analysis of 55 SSF Chance:2:Be case studies were carried out using descriptive analysis. In total there were 79 participants in the research, 56 young people aged between 10-18, 13 sports practitioners and 10 SSF practitioners.

All transcriptions were anonymised, and pseudonyms given. Written data was analysed using Braun and Clarks (2008) thematic analysis and Charmaz’s (2008) constant comparative method. Visual data was analysed by applying Tsang’s (2020) visual critical approach. All data sets were then compared, and themes developed. The report evaluated SSF in relation to six set outcomes:

Outcome 1: Young people build their confidence and resilience, benefit from strengthened support networks and reduce risk-taking behaviour.
Outcome 2: Young people develop their physical and personal skills.
Outcome 3: Young people’s health and well-being improves.
Outcome 4: Young people participate in activity which improves their learning, employability, and employment options (positive destinations).
Outcome 5: Young people contribute positively to their communities.
Outcome 6: Young people are diverted from criminal behaviour or involvement with the criminal justice system.

15 recommendations were suggested across the 4 programmes and 3 main findings emerged across all programmes throughout the evaluation:

1. That SSF works with the ideal population for CashBack for Communities.
2. SSF significantly over-achieved in relation to each of the six outcomes it was being evaluated against.
3. SSF provides a universal, trauma informed service to young people across Scotland that helps change their lives for the better.

Across the board young people and practitioners highlighted how young people’s transitions back into society following the Covid-19 pandemic were problematic. That more young people were experiencing higher levels of mental health issues and feelings of isolation. SSF provided a universal 3 service to young people which allowed trauma informed practice to occur which had the result of de-stigmatising and de-criminalising individuals. Our findings indicated SSF was a powerful impetus for change in young people’s lives and acted as a barrier to these feelings. SSF created physically and emotionally safe places for young people to attend and improved trauma-informed practice across Scotland.