Changing Lives Community Services

Research Solution

Through an Innovate UK funded Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) project, Changing Lives partnered with Dr Chris McManus, an expert in measuring the impact of sport and exercise on wellbeing and performance, from Essex’s School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Science.

Alongside Research Assistant Jenson Taylor, Dr McManus and Dr Alison Swartz collected a series of data points from the Changing Lives players to look at their wellbeing and the impact playing competitive football was having on their lives.

The tests included physical measurements conducted at Essex’s cutting-edge Human Performance Unit, as well as surveys and interviews designed to explore the players’ mental and emotional wellbeing. 

The academic team analysed all the data gathered using the latest techniques to produce a report summarising the findings, setting out the evidence for their conclusions and making recommendations about next steps and ways to improve.

Business value

The results of the research show that playing with Changing Lives FC has a positive impact on the players’ health and wellbeing, with Changing Lives now able to use the report produced by the academic team to show funders and supporters that they are delivering a positive impact through their work.

The findings from the report are being included in grant applications and have helped Changing Lives to secure new contracts with their commissioners. Not only that, the report makes recommendations about steps Changing Lives could take to improve their activities even further to enhance the benefits for the players.

The project has given Changing Lives the skills needed to continue monitoring their impact, which will help them to improve their activities and support future funding applications.