The Role of Sports Programs in UK Prisons: A Sociological Perspective

This report examines the impact of sports programs on youth in UK prisons, focusing on the experiences of young male offenders and the sociological factors influencing their participation and rehabilitation. The analysis begins with an introduction highlighting the significance of sports in youth development and its potential in addressing youth offending. The report then delves into arguments presented in the provided article, exploring the historical context of sports interventions in UK prisons, critiques of existing programs, and the benefits of physical activity in reducing anger, stress, and promoting social skills. The methodology section details the qualitative approach used, including data collection methods like interviews and observations, and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of this approach. The report also addresses issues of social inequality, poverty, and exclusion, examining how these factors impact youth participation in sports programs. The conclusion summarizes the key findings, emphasizing the potential of sports-based initiatives to confer psychosocial benefits and promote rehabilitation, particularly when integrated into comprehensive support systems. The report references relevant academic sources to support its claims.

Policy and society
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Sports has become a routine in the lives of people. basically, youth is highly interested in
taking part in sports. It is because it has provided them opportunity to build career in it. Also, it
allows to engage them in physical activity and maintaining balance and healthy life. In UK there
are different sports programmes and events organised by government to attract youth. But it has
been found that in prison these youth are not been highly involved in sports programmes. This is
because youth offending has become issue in recent times. Youth sports is targeting crime and
resulting in anti social behaviour. Youth is experiencing certain interventions in juveniles to
participate in sport.
Arguments
By reviewing article it can be stated that author is focusing on things that are related to
young male students who are being offended in taking part in sports after getting out from
prison. This was started in 1960 when policy in UK was promoted sport in tackling youth
delinquency. The youth was offended from sport when they were engaged in crime and juvenile.
Those youth were of age 16-19 that has done crime in teenage (Parker, Meek. and Lewis, 2014).
So, it led to decrease in participation of youth and they were offended by agency party. Besides
that, they were not having basic social skill as well to take part in sports. There were many sports
programme that was held by agency party and government in order to provide opportunity to
youth to take part in it. the author critiqued that there was no difference between intervention and
control groups on self-reported offending behavior or substance use but found a modest
significant improvement in official arrest and conviction rates among the intervention group
compared to controls.
Also, from article it is analysed that in physical activity youth of age 18 years are highly
participating in it in UK. But after getting out from juvenile these youth are offended from taking
part. Besides having social skills as well they are not given more opportunity as compared to
others. These juveniles actively get engage in physical activities. It has been evaluated that things
are changed in it. Here, an initiative is being taken that is through the gate where youth are given
support, etc. it has also led to solving conflict in it and positive outcomes are obtained from it.
thus, author said that sport can be used to valuable means to engage youth in juvenile as it gives
several psychological benefit to them. but there is need to have effective planning so that agent
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party and other are also involved in it and people get opportunity in sport in future. The sport is
useful in reducing anger and stress among juvenile.
It has been critiqued that among youth there is personal motivation for sport. There are
many ways related to how they engage in this. When a proper sports programme is structured
then it encourage youth in prison to engage in it. they feel relaxed and enjoy with others. By
taking interview of people it can be said that many of their behaviour is changed. This is because
they are taking part in sports. Also, when they came to prison they were lazy but now they feel
motivated. So, it requires an effective and proper structure of sports programme to allow youth in
prison to engage in it. therefore, there is personal motivation for youth to participate in it. This is
because it provide a platform to them in future. Along with that, many youth felt happy and
energised after taking part in it. Their entire routine and social life changed. This enabled in
maintaining physical health as well. in school most of them did not participate in it but when
they came to prison they got engaged in that. However, sports is still a better option for youth
than other lessons or activities done in prison. It has impacted on their behaviour in positive
way.
In view of author there is requires some sport and social skills to engage in it. in prison
social interaction is bounded by personality and tension. So, by playing sport it enables in
making things easy and understanding each other. The youth are able to communicate and
interact with one another. Therefore, it provide a better way and option for people to get engage
with others.
It has been identified that in spite of all these sports programme organised in prison for
youth it is found that there are certain intervention as well. when they are released from juvenile
they do not get chance or opportunity to take part in it. Here, agent party restrict them as their
image is spoiled and they do not have resources as well. the youth are still being offended to take
part in sport programme. Thus, it reduces possibility of opportunity from them and they are not
able to succeed in future or progress. Apart from that, community also plays vital role in it as
they do not accept juvenile in it. due to that their needs are not fulfilled as well. there is need to
have things in specific way. In addition, many on going intervention is already initiated by but
they are not effective. Now, support agencies need to help youth to provide opportunity in sport
and progress.
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It is important that government to initiate various programmes in prison to encourage
youth. This has to be done in proper way so that it allows in implementing intervention in it and
then providing platform. There was reduction of 10% in reoffending after one year among young
offenders who participated in an intensive programme incorporating physical activity with
vocational training and work placements in comparison to controls, although it should be noted
that this reduction was largely attributed to the non-sporting element of the programme. y agency
party. Besides that, they were not having basic social skill as well to take part in sports. There
were many sports programme that was held by agency party and government in order to provide
opportunity to youth to take part.
Methodology used
In present study the methodology used is qualitative one in which young people
experience is recorded. For that a sample size of 400 was taken who was of age between 15-18
year males. Here, research was conducted at Young offender institution in South of England in a
prison. However, primary data was gathered with help of interview and observation. Besides
that, cluster sampling was used in it in order to select the male students. Along with conducting
of interview with them, mentors, caseworkers and PE staff interview was also taken in this study
to gather data and info. The respondent sample was 12 of age 15-17 years in which 10 were
taken who was serving prison sentence and 2 was released. Here, interview was recorded and
transcript. Besides that, for data analysis thematic technique was used in it where different
themes were made and on basis of that data was analysed.
There are certain advantages as well of gathering qualitative data. It can be found that
taking of interview will enable in expressing student experience in clear and precise way. Thus,
it can be found that how they feel, think, etc. of sports and society. Moreover, reason behind their
motivation for sport is identified. Alongside, feeling of PE staff, mentor, etc can also be
identified from qualitative data. Hence, there is no need of stats, facts, etc in this type of study
and experience. Besides that, it can be easily determine change in attitude of participants and
there was no limitations in it. so, there is in depth explanation is available of data that gives
proper insight as well.
But on contrary, it has been analysed that there are several disadvantage of gathering of
qualitative data in this study. First is there may be sample bias occurred in it as sample size is of
400 students. moreover, argument given in this shows self selection of group. Thus, it may not
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be relevant enough in analysing their views and collecting data. Sometimes, there may require
stats and facts to find out how many people have participated in sports, ratio of male to female in
various sports programme, etc. Thus, for that quantitative method is appropriate. In addition, it
also helps in determining relationship between variables with help of different test conducted in
SPSS.
Issues related to social inequality, poverty and exclusion
In my view I think that there is link between sports and social inequality. It is found that
not only in UK but in other countries as well inequality is done with youth. Also, this is not
done in particular field but in various other sectors. However, in country like India there is more
participation of men as compared to women in sports. It is because of cultural ethics and values
that is followed where women are not allowed to play sports. Hence, it clearly shows social
inequality in it. besides that, it is found that poverty is also a major factor due to which youth are
restricted to participate in sports programme. Here, they require relevant social skills to be
developed. But they are not having enough money to engage with multi sport agency. Usually, it
is found that the exclusions are based on small areas and sample.
Along with this, there are some wider issues as well that exists in society that is poverty.
So, it is highly linked to this as when young people are not having money they do crimes or get
engage in it. Due to this they are being sent to juvenile. But when they are released there is same
problem of money in it. this shows that there is lack of opportunity for youth to engage in sports
programme. In this women are excluded from it. they are not given equal rights as compared to
men. Those who are released from juvenile are not included in sports programme. This is
because agency party have some policy of not to include them in it. this is highly linked with
offending of youth as they do not consider them as part of society.
Therefore, it is essential to take relevant steps in order to reduce social inequality,
exclusion from sports technique so that youth can participate in effective way.
CONCLUSION
From article it can be summarized that taking part in sports benefit in various ways and
create positive prison environment. Sports enable in developing social skills in young people.
The British criminal justice system is not a proper integration. Youth released from prison are
not able to take part in sports as they are not having proper social skills. The main intervention
identified is through gate resettlement work in which it provide opportunity to built self
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confidence in them. They are empowered to develop self advocacy and engage with multi sport
agency. In this way they can life a better social life. Furthermore, it will be helpful in enhancing
those skills and transition into society. The paper concludes by suggesting that sports-based
initiatives for young people in custody can confer significant psychosocial benefits and promote
rehabilitation, particularly when integrated into wider programs of support and provision.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Parker, A., Meek, R. and Lewis, G., 2014. Sport in a youth prison: male young offenders'
experiences of a sporting intervention. Journal of youth studies, 17(3), pp.381-396.
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