Detailed Analysis (Based on 325 Known Participants)

1. Participant Demographics

Our analysis of the 325 participants registered in the SportFin system reveals key demographic insights into the communities we serve.

Gender Distribution

The participant base shows a balanced gender distribution, with 176 Male participants and 149 Female participants. This indicates effective engagement across genders.

Figure 4: Gender Distribution of Participants

Age Group Distribution

A significant portion of our participants fall into the Youth category (204 participants), highlighting our strong engagement with younger demographics. We also have a substantial number of Older Adults (98 participants), followed by Adults (17) and Young Adults (6).

Figure 5: Age Group Distribution of Participants

Ethnicity Breakdown

The ethnicity data indicates a diverse participant group, with a notable proportion where ethnicity data was not recorded (131 participants). Among those recorded, White - British (83 participants) forms the largest group, followed by White and Asian (29), Kurdish (14), and Bangladeshi (12).

Figure 6: Top 10 Ethnicities of Participants

2. Engagement Patterns

Understanding how participants interact with our programmes is crucial for assessing operational effectiveness and reach.

Participation vs. Volunteer Roles

Our engagement data shows that the majority of interactions are from Participants (3315 engagements), with valuable contributions from Staff (333 engagements) and Volunteers (261 engagements). This highlights the core focus on direct participation in our activities.

Figure 7: Engagement Distribution by Role

Most Popular Activities

The most popular activities by engagement count include Leisure United Blakelaw Family Session (754 engagements), Gateshead Older People Assembley (556 engagements), and Newcastle HAF Camp (496 engagements). These activities are key drivers of participation.

Figure 8: Top 10 Most Popular Activities

3. Socioeconomic Context of Participants

To understand the broader community impact, we have mapped the residential locations of our 325 known participants against the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) 2019.

Deprivation Analysis (IMD Deciles)

The analysis of IMD Deciles for participant locations reveals that a significant proportion of our participants reside in areas experiencing higher levels of deprivation. The mean IMD decile is 3.79 (with a median of 3.0), indicating that on average, our participants come from areas in the more deprived half of England. Specifically, a large number of areas fall within decile 1 (most deprived 10%) and decile 3. This highlights Cricketqube's important role in engaging communities with significant needs.

Figure 9: Geographical Distribution of Participant Deprivation (IMD Deciles)

4. Achieved Outcome Correlations

Our programmes are correlated with a diverse range of positive outcomes across several key thematic areas.

Outcomes by Group Type

The most frequently correlated outcome groups are Education & Human Capital (319 participants) and Mental Health (319 participants), followed by Physical Health (171), Social Capital (171), and Crime (133). This demonstrates a broad positive influence on participants' lives.

Figure 10: Count of Unique Participants by Outcome Group

Top Outcome Correlations

Specific outcomes showing high correlation include Confidence Improvement (319 participants), Social skills/Teamwork Improvement (319 participants), Vocational Skills Development (319 participants), and Life Satisfaction (Subjective Wellbeing) Improvement (319 participants).

Outcome Group Type	Outcome Name	Participant Count
Education & Human Capital	Confidence Improvement	319
Education & Human Capital	Social skills/Teamwork Improvement	319
Education & Human Capital	Vocational Skills Development	319
Mental Health	Life Satisfaction (Subjective Wellbeing) Improvement	319
Education & Human Capital	Academic Aspirations Improvement	204
Education & Human Capital	Educational Attainment Improvement	204
Education & Human Capital	Employability	204
Education & Human Capital	Household income	204
Physical Health	Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction	171
Social Capital	Better awareness and understanding of others	171

Table 1: Top 10 Outcome Correlations

5. Validation with Academic Research

The outcomes observed in Cricketqube's participants are consistently supported by academic research on the impact of sport and physical activity.

Impact of Sports on Confidence and Social Skills

Participation in sports, especially team sports, significantly enhances self-confidence and social skills in children and adolescents. Studies show that sports foster positive relationships, improve communication, cooperation, leadership, and empathy[R1][R2][R3][R4]. This involvement also contributes to better emotional regulation and a stronger sense of belonging[R1][R2]. For adults, sports participation is linked to improved psychological well-being, including higher self-esteem and better social outcomes like self-control and interpersonal communication[R5].

Physical Activity and Vocational Skills Development

While direct research on "physical activity and vocational skills development" is less abundant, studies highlight that physical activity is crucial for a healthy workforce. Sport-based interventions can develop "soft skills" such as personal responsibility, teamwork, time management, and conflict resolution, which are valuable in the workplace[R6].

Sport's Role in Life Satisfaction and Wellbeing

Leisure-time sporting activity is consistently associated with higher well-being and life satisfaction across all age groups[R7][R8]. Regular physical activity, including sports, is linked to reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improved mental health and cognitive health[R9].

Academic Aspirations and Educational Attainment through Sport

Research indicates a positive relationship between athletic participation and academic achievement and aspirations. Athletes often have higher educational aspirations and, in some cases, higher grade point averages than non-athletes