Our approach to meeting community need

Our approach to meeting community needClubs and community organisations are stronger when they intentionally contribute to the needs of their community. By understanding community need and being responsive to this through our planning, design and delivery, this will help clubs to engage more participants as well as more diverse participation, thereby creating strong, sustainable, safe, and inclusive clubs that meet the needs of their community and their members.

Meeting Community Need intentionally use sport and physical activity to bring about positive change for individuals and communities. It is an approach, mindset and way of working. It uses sport and physical activity to intentionally bring about positive change for people and communities, as well as supporting participation.

Meeting community need has 10 key ingredients;

  • Skilled workforce
  • Learning culture
  • Collaboration
  • Understanding community need
  • Intentionality
  • Measuring impact
  • Codesign
  • Person centred
  • Fun and social activity
  • Inclusive approach

sportscotland, Scottish Government, The Robertson Trust and Spirit of 2012 came together in 2017 to deliver a wide programme of support and funding to support organisations to use sport and physical activity as a driver to achieve positive individual and community change as a core element of the existing World Class Sporting System. The approach (previously referred to as Changing Lives) is now embedding across the sporting system and supporting community need, engaging more participants and making our system more diverse.

Resources

What is Changing Lives

Changing Lives Ingredients

The difference Changing Lives can make (long version)

The difference Changing Lives can make (short version)

Inclusion and Community

Impact: Health and Wellbeing

Impact: Learning and Skills

Intentionality increases impact

Policy Links

Date published: 29 March 2023
Date updated: 8 January 2026

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