Services

Sportimpakt assists in all phases of the project, starting from planning of the programme to submission of the final evaluation report. Our work might be described as pragmatic social innovation through sport.

The services may be divided into the following categories:

Strategy & policy planning

Due to our experience and insight we are frequently involved in a critical analysis of the strategies, interventions and projects related to sport. This includes developing theoretical framework of the intervention, planning projects for impact and consulting strategies for a local and national administration. We help organisations build their capacity on a strong foundation.

Recent work:

• Consulting local sport strategy for two provinces
• Consulting the growth of the largest infrastructural sports project in Poland

Developing project framework

Through research and expertise we help organisations effectively develop and manage their projects related to sport. We understand the value of evidence-based approach to management and help to facilitate its implementation. This refers to developing a theoretical framework of intervention, planning projects to maximise impact, a value creation process and consulting strategies for a local and national administration. Our practice in evaluating and researching sport projects helps us adapt good practices from previous programs to new conditions. Further, we have an exceptional talent of involving a broad set of partners and understanding different groups of beneficiaries of the project.

Recent work:

• Researching and consulting several governmental programs aimed to increase amount of physical activity among schoolchildren

Local diagnosis / participatory planning

We conduct different participatory research. Such diagnosis usually precedes the development of a local sport strategy, but it also becomes a standard part of planning large scale sports projects and hosting international events. We have considerable experience in participatory spatial planning research, including recreational spaces and investments in sports infrastructure. This service has become increasingly popular, not only among local governments.

Recent work:

• Participatory diagnosis of sport in County Mrągowo , which was the first such study in Poland
• Diagnosis of local sport in the province of Kujawsko-Pomorskie
• ‘How to map space for activity’ - a guidebook on how to conduct participatory planning for local interventions in physical activity, sport etc. based on our research about surrounding space at the National Stadium of Warsaw

Monitoring & evaluation of the sport projects

We carry out comprehensive evaluation studies. In addition to assessing the program's assumptions we monitor its implementation. In typical projects we provide open and friendly support.

We also help to develop a data collection system, which is particularly important in case of running long-term programs. For the purpose of evaluation we usually use a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Furthermore, we design tools for evaluation.

Recent work:

• Evaluation of ‘Animator Orlika’ - a nationwide program coordinating work of trainers employed at Orliki
• Evaluation of four nation-wide programs to increase participation and sport literacy among school children and adolescents co-financed by the Department of Sports and Tourism between 2014-2015
• Evaluation of ‘PZU Trasy Zdrowia’ - a program aimed to prepare green areas for physical exercise in multiple municipalities in Poland

Social impact measurement

One of our distinctive services is measuring the impact of sports projects. It is an attempt to look beyond the norm, usually presenting "output" of a program. Through research, we are able to look deeper into projects or events, to get to the bottom of their difficulties. The study is usually developed to enable setting causal hypothesis.
The benefits of measuring and presenting the social impact of the projects is, apart from increasing its effectiveness, easier communication of activities within the environment. As a result, it increases transparency and assessment of the work among project partners and beneficiaries of the initiative. Further, measuring the impact of projects gives an opportunity to compare their effectiveness, which may be particularly valuable for the donor or impact-oriented sponsor.

Recent work:

• Social legacy of Euro 2012 - conceptual work about hosting an international event in Poland

Social research

In Sportimpakt we have multi-disciplinary teams, which help us offer a wide variety of social research. This includes the design process, developing measurement tools and final reporting. We usually use a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods, including in-depth data analysis.

Partnerships in the field of sport, development and quality of life

Researchers from Sportimpakt participated in some of the largest projects related to sport for all sports infrastructure in Poland. Examples of our pioneering projects in Poland, include spatial participatory planning (‘Skwer Sportów Miejskich’ in Warsaw), thorough long-term evaluation of sport project (‘Animator’, ‘Orlik 2012’), and first diagnosis of sport for local governments in the provinces of Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie. From the very beginning we were involved in improving access to sport for disadvantage groups. Our researchers are authors of the first professional report about Polish women in sport.

Understanding the context of Polish sport, broad contacts and experience in working with the private sector makes us a strong business partner. CWS is also an affiliation between the university and external organisations. We are particularly interested in partnerships in the following areas: sport & development, social impacts of sport, sport and healthy policy, physical activity for disadvantage groups, good practices in sport management.

Recent projects:

• Organisation of a workgroup and conference about relationships between health policy and sport in cooperation with the Polish Athletic Association