GSUN Connections: Sport for Development Event put on by Loughborough
GSUN members are invited to attend a Sport for Development Event put on by the Institute of Advanced Studies at Loughborough University.
No Sidelines: Sport for Development with Marginalised Youth in the UK and Australia
11 February, 2026
10:00 am – 12:00 noon GMT (Zoom webinar)
The panel discussion brings together practitioners and academics to explore how sport is being used as a tool for development with young people from marginalised backgrounds in the UK and Australia. This event has been organised by Drs Robyn Smith & Caron Walpole (SSEHS) in collaboration with the UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development and the IAS.
The panel will draw on lived experience, placebased practice, and researchinformed evidence to examine the role of sport in supporting youth wellbeing, social inclusion, and crime prevention across diverse contexts. Through comparative perspectives, speakers will reflect on what works and what does not, in engaging young people, building relationships, and coproducing impactful programmes, as well as the challenges and possibilities of cross-sector collaboration in sport for development initiatives.
Panel speakers include:
Marial Machar: Churchill Fellow & Founder of Rams Sport Group. Marial founded and leads a successful sport for development programme in Australia focused on supporting the wellbeing and aspirations of diverse young people.
Dr Caron Walpole: Translation Lead – Health, Wellbeing and Sport in SSEHS (youth sport & crime prevention).
Chantelle Nice: New Bury Boxing & Violence Reduction Alliance Facilitator at Bolton CVS.
Dr Robyn Smith: Vice-Chancellor Independent Research Fellow in SSEHS (youth sport, wellbeing, and social inclusion)
This panel discussion aims to spark dialogue and knowledge exchange between researchers, practitioners, and students, highlighting shared challenges and lessons across contexts.
For more information or to Register for this Webinar, click here.