Publications
We firmly believe that theory and practice should be intertwined so as to inform best practice and ensure progress.
Our commitment to academic research
Academic research at the highest level is essential in providing information which informs action, gather evidence for theories, and contribute to developing knowledge in a particular field of study informing strategic professional thinking.
Our commitment to research into our own work has helped us to understand the learning journey, provide evidence of impact or change which in turn informs the practice moving forward. Theory and practice in our view must always be the same therefore we are committed to building solid relationships with renowned academic centres where knowledge exchange can take place.
Below are some of the publications that Sporting Communities feature in.
Playing on the Ruins
(Podyma, 2026)
Youth Worker Interactions with Other Sectors: Better understanding multi-agency working to support young people
(Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2025)
The State of Us: Communtiy strength and cohesion in the UK
(Puddle Rutter and Rolfe, 2025)
A Journey into Hybrid Play Space Approaches Within an Urban Context
(Ross Podyma, 2025)
Beyond a Rocket Park: A Transformative Journey
(Ross Podyma, 2025)
Sociological studies of children and youth, volume 32. Spaces for play: intergenerational community development of an urban park in the East Midlands of England.
(Linda Shaw, 2025)
Participation in Action: Youth-led conference empowers young people to think big for a better future
(Children & Young People Now, 2024)
Building Safety: Co-designing safety and fairness into the ‘missing’ response for young people in care who are at risk beyond their families.
(Lauren Elizabeth Wroe, 2024)
Using young people's stories to gather evidence and show impact
(Children & Young People Now, 2023)
 Re-imagining Playwork through a Poststructural Lens: Stories from the climbing frame.
(Dr Linda Shaw, 2023)
Contextual Safeguarding: Resilient Communities blog
(Durham University, 2023)
Making it Happen: Evaluation
(Richards, 2023)
Children's Emotional Health and Well-being
(Richards, 2023)
 Evaluation of the 2021 holiday activities and food programme
(Cox et al. 2022)
 Improving Community Cohesion and Integration in Stoke-on-Trent: An Evaluation of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Community Development Initiatives
(Keele University, 2022)
Coaching for All
(Mason et al. 2021)
 A National Plan for Sports, Health and Wellbeing
(House of Lords, 2021)
 Together, We Can Achieve Unity
(Tyrrell et al. 2021)
 Derby Youth Alliance Serious Youth Violence Pilot
(Richards, 2021)
The efficiency of playwork as a universal service
(Podyma, 2015)
Practice: searching and re/searching
(Cartmel, 2015)
Sport and Social Exclusion
(Collins and Kay, 2002)
Leisure Exclusion? Analysing Interventions Using Active Leisure With Young People Offending or At Risk
(McCormack, 2000)
