Investigating the delivery of health improvement interventions through professional football club community trusts-strengths and challenges

A R Pringle; S Zwolinsky; L Lozano-Sufrategui

doi:10.1016/j.puhip.2021.100104

Investigating the delivery of health improvement interventions through professional football club community trusts-strengths and challenges

Public Health Pract (Oxf). 2021 Mar 19:2:100104. doi: 10.1016/j.puhip.2021.100104. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Authors

A R Pringle¹, S Zwolinsky², L Lozano-Sufrategui³

Affiliations

¹ Sport, Outdoor and Exercise Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, DE22 1GB, UK.
² West Yorkshire and Harrogate Cancer Alliance, White Rose House, West Parade, Wakefield, WF1 1LT, UK.
³ Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, LS6 3QS, UK.

Abstract

Objectives: This study audits health improvement provision delivered in/by English professional Football Club Community Trusts and reports the strengths and challenges around the implementation of interventions.

Study design: Multi-methods design: Data were collected through (i) a review of trust websites (n = 72), (ii) an online survey (n = 34/47.2%) and (iii) semi-structured interviews (n = 11/32.3%) with a sub-sample of trust managers.

Results: The review of websites confirms all trusts provided physical activity-led interventions. The online survey showed most managers were male (n = 23/67.7%) and white British (n = 30/88.2%). Two thirds held management roles, (n = 23/67.6%) and represented Championship (n = 12/35.2%), League 1 (n = 13/38.2%) and League 2 clubs (n = 9/26.5%). Trusts provided physical activity and most provided diet (n = 31/91.2%) as well as smoking (n = 20/58.8%) and alcohol (n = 19/55.9%) interventions. Weight management, (n = 25/73.5%), mental health interventions (n = 28/82.4%) were offered. Trusts provided male-specific (n = 20/58.8%), with fewer providing female-specific interventions (n = 15/44.1%). Most trusts (n = 30/88.2%) evaluated interventions. 80.8% (n = 21/26) used public health guidance for programme design, 69.2% (n = 18/26) delivery, 57.7% (n = 15/26) needs assessment and 50% (n = 13/26) evaluation. Interviews and qualitative reports identified strengths including, using football, the 'club brand', 'meeting health needs' and 'working as a strategic collaboration with partners'. Challenges included 'short-term funding staffing, mainstreaming, and evaluating interventions'.

Conclusion: Football Community Trusts deliver interventions, but challenges were encountered when implementing these programmes.

Keywords: Community trust; Football; Health improvement; Physical activity.