A theory of change for place based physical activity interventions

Engaging those most disaffected from participation in sport and physical activity is an enduring challenge for policymakers and practitioners. The barriers to participation are most acute for individuals and groups that experience a complex and emergent set of social, cultural and economic issues within their local communities. In light of these challenges, in the UK over the past decade, there has been a proliferation of funding and strategic buy-in for place-based working. A place-based approach is now often advocated as the model for community-based provision, though the evaluation of place-based approaches delivered through community sport systems remains limited. This paper illustrates novel insights into how a process evaluation, when integrated with a place-based programme, can increase the chances of securing public health benefits that incorporate considerations of equity. To do this we reflect critically on the national evaluation of the Active Through Football (ATF) programme which began delivery in 2022. The paper presents a generic theory of change for place-based physical activity interventions based on our accumulated learning across 25 ATF place-based programmes. Our findings demonstrate how activities within a place-based approach contribute to a range of outcomes through the activation of key underlying programme mechanisms. This theory of change will be useful for those who wish to emulate ATF’s place-based approach, or evaluate key processes within place-based practice. This understanding of programme mechanisms is central to the continued accumulation of practical and theoretical knowledge to guide place-based sport practice and policy.