On Friday 13th December 2024, the Peter Harrison Centre teamed up with lifestyle for health and wellbeing colleagues to host Alex Giles, Stacey Johnson and Helen Derby from Activity Alliance. Colleagues from Activity Alliance did a seminar on the latest strategic updates and a spotlight on one of their flagship programmes, Get Out Get Active. There were lots of questions posed throughout the seminar, including people’s views on what inclusion means to them and their work.
Commenting on the seminar and recent activities with Activity Alliance, Dr Verity Postlethwaite said:
“I was fortunate to go to the launch of Activity Alliance’s strategy in December. The seminar was very timely. We're incredibly grateful for the insights from Alex, Stacey, and Helen. Their forward-thinking approach to inclusion and disability is inspiring. The seminar deepened our understanding of the strong alignments between Activity Alliance and Loughborough University.” (Dr Verity Postlethwaite)
Building on a number of mutual interests and projects, colleagues from across the PHC and university are strengthening the partnership between Activity Alliance and Loughborough University. For example, in 2025, Dr Silvia Costa and Dr Janine Coates secured funding for a PhD studentship titled:
Physical activity and sports participation of disabled children and young people – understanding current levels and time-trends, and how to tackle inequalities
The project directly works with the Activity Alliance to investigate the following aims:
- Assess the current evidence-base on levels and trends of Physical Activity/sport participation of disabled school-aged children and young people.
- Assess the current levels and trends of Physical Activity/sport participation of disabled school-aged children and young people in the UK.
- Investigate the existing knowledge and preferences, barriers and facilitators for regular practice of Physical Activity and (para)sport in disabled school-aged children and young people in the United Kingdom.
Addressing these aims will involve conducting a systematic review, and employing a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods, for which the student will receive appropriate training and support. The PhD student will also have the opportunity to spend 2-4 weeks each year working under the Activity Alliance's supervision - this is an invaluable opportunity to have hands-on experience on how a national organisation uses research to influence policy and advocate for disabled children, and communicating research to the wider public (including, the use of adequate inclusive imagery and language).
Live details of the PhD can be found here: Physical activity and sports participation of disabled children and young people | Postgraduate study | Loughborough University (please note this opportunity closes on 10th March 2025).