Sports programmes for the unemployed

Abstract

This study examined the impact of unemployment and attempts through a particular sports programme to lesson its adverse effects. The primary aim was to understand how unemployment was affecting people and investigate whether a sports programme was decisive in reducing its ramifications. A secondary aim was to explore the background of political ideology. In the programme, developed by Sport Waikato, attendance was non-compulsory and the majority of course members were male Maori. Data were gathered from three key informant interviews and a survey of thirty-eight participants. From a literature search, two main theories developed by Jahoda(1981,1982), and Fryer and Payne(1984) seemed promising. The former linked the loss of employment to a number of 'latent consequences' that could only be remedied through regaining employment, while the latter suggested that other 'personal activity' could mitigate the effects of unemployment. The findings provided supporting evidence for both theories. Participants referred to all of the 'latent consequences' and to the benefits of 'personal activity'. The programme appeared to have improved confidence, self-esteem, communication, respect, and time-management, and to have had some impact on participants' drugs-taking, drinking, violence and anger, although to a lesser extent. The key to success seemed to be giving the participants the power to run the scheme according to their own values and principles. However, the success of such an initiative seemed to be dependent on the relationship between the providers and participants and the relevance of sport to the members. In this case targeting had been effective because of the power-sharing relationship and the relevance of sport to the 'members' of the group.