KKP has completed a two year evaluation of the Club Links programme - a work strand within the wider government - PE, School Sport and Club Links (PESSCL) strategy for the national partners, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Sport England (SE) and the Youth Sport Trust (YST).

The evaluation examined the programme's success in strengthening links between schools and local sports clubs and the extent to which it has increased the proportion of children guided from school sports partnerships (SSPs) into local national governing body of sport (NGB) affiliated and accredited sports clubs.

To do this KKP worked closely with a range of NGBs, county sports partnerships (CSPs), SSPs and local sports clubs - the main deliverers of PESSCL at local level. Case studies comprised in-depth consultation with partnership development managers, school sport co-ordinators, primary link teachers, other school staff, sports clubs, young people and parents. Other consultees included the national partners, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the Department for Education and Skills and the National Council for School Sport.

The year one evaluation was primarily concerned with the collection of valuable quantitative and qualitative data to assess the way in which links are delivered and the successful characteristics that enable smooth transfer of an individual from a school to a club. Emerging findings highlighted a number of fundamental characteristics of an effective school-club link. Among these is the presence of a familiar person/people with ‘a foot in both camps' - vital in enabling the transfer of a young person from school to a club. A range of barriers to creating links were also identified. The year one evaluation report was submitted to Sport England in May 2006.

Following consultation with Club Links delivery partners, KKP addressed more qualitative issues in year two and explored how delivery agents are widening the Programme to engage young people with low participation rates. The report involved scrutiny of best practice and a series of case studies. It analysed the operation of the Programme with specific reference to:

• What NGBs are doing to rebrand/redesign their product to appeal to identified groups.
• What, at local level, SSPs, county sports partnerships (CSPs) and NGBs are collectively doing to meet the challenges of engaging with ‘non-sporty types' and hard to reach groups. 
• What clubs are doing to appeal to these groups and what approaches they are adopting to ensure that their product/service remains popular and relevant to young people.

This report indicated eight key components that help partners engage with young people who are low/non-participants. Amongst these is the joined up delivery at a local level, innovation, understanding young people and responding to need. The year two evaluation report was submitted to Sport England in July 2007.

Commenting on the evaluation, Michael Nyarko, Club-Links Manager, Sport England said,

"The evaluation not only highlights many cases of best practice but also provides a practical yet challenging steer for the future development of the programme. We must now work with partners and delivery agents to ensure action is taken to engage the hard to reach so that we can reach our targets for increased participation for all."

Following the successful delivery of this two year evaluation, KKP was asked to further explore ways of adding value to school club links process following successful delivery of two year programme evaluation.

 Read more about the Year One evaluation