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The use of sports-based activity programmes as a means of tackling crime has been explored in a number of countries worldwide, particularly in relation to the prevention of re-offending in the ten to eighteen age bracket. However, until now there has been no definitive and rigorous analysis of the rationale behind these programmes, and evidence of their successes and failures has been piecemeal, uncritical and without standardization. This book addresses this gap in the literature, bringing together empirical research from programmes in the UK, US and Australia with an explanation and evaluati

West Yorkshire Sports Counselling (WYSC) offered probation service clients a twelve‐week programme of sports activities as a medium for counselling, with the objective of reducing offending behaviour. Through an evaluation of West Yorkshire Sports Counselling this article contributes to an understanding of how such projects might work to reduce crime. In the past such projects have been characterised by both poorly developed rationales and poor evaluation. The reasons for this are examined. The understandings gained from West Yorkshire Sports Counselling are related to previous research and theory, from criminology, youth work and psychology. This leads to implications for good practice and a sharper definition of the focus for further research.

This paper examines the experience of volunteering in relation to the latent functions of paid work identified by social psychologists. In-depth interviews with fourteen volunteers illustrate the considerable rewards of volunteering, especially in terms of personal status and identity. The common rewards of volunteering and employment challenge the traditional dichotomy between paid and unpaid work. However, the experience of volunteering is context specific, and for some the lack of material benefits will limit its ability to substitute for employment. The promotion of volunteering within the UK Big Society policy could acknowledge its personal benefits, while being mindful that their ability to contribute to a satisfying life is moderated by the individual's circumstances and attitude towards the opportunities volunteering offers.

Considerations of Olympic Games' legacies have focused on economic benefits, with little consideration given to the potential legacy from the substantial number of volunteers involved. This article examines the experiences of volunteers in a programme established as a legacy of the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Its results challenge the dominant social inclusion discourse in showing that volunteering provides social inclusion benefits beyond employability by enriching volunteers' lives and empowering them to make new choices. Recognizing and valuing this would enable 'social inclusion' programmes promoting volunteering at major events, such as the 2012 Olympics, to broaden their objectives.

Abstract: This article considers the complexity of measuring the impact on crime reduction of different types of intervention with young people, which use the medium of sports activity. It draws on the authors' experience of sports‐related programmes. Interventions are categorised using a combination of Brantingham and Faust's (1976) categorisation of programmes as primary, secondary, or tertiary prevention and the mechanism by which the intervention is likely to work (Pawson and Tilley 1997). This shows that the impact of some types of intervention is not only inherently more difficult to measure, but also demands far more resources to do so. This applies particularly to interventions such as the Youth Justice Board supported summer Splash programmes, which involve casual participation, and target geographical areas rather than individuals. The relationship of the categorisation to the technical and practical difficulties of measuring impact shows that the ideal of evidence‐led policy is not easy to achieve, however, using this categorisation, the article makes some suggestions for evaluation methods, based on experience. The article also shows that in some cases the resources required to produce the evidence exceeds those available to many programmes. The implications of this are considered.