We are a not-for-profit media and training company dedicated to telling stories of impact from under-represented communities, and amplifying voices of lived or living experience.
OUR VISION is for a fairer and more equitable media sector in which local community-based organisations are more visible so they can attract funding and become sustainable, thus enabling more individuals in need and disadvantaged groups to access their offers.
OUR MISSION: We partner with universities and mainstream media to amplify compelling stories of lived and living experience from diverse communities, demonstrating how community sport – when delivered at scale – can help to build a healthier and more equitable society, and support policy objectives.
All profits received by ConnectSport CIC are reinvested in training more socially-responsible journalists and content creators, and raising awareness for more locally-trusted organisations. Read about our services and contact hello@connectsport.co.uk to find out more.
Why is this important?
Recent research from The Centre for Social Justice Foundation revealed that 85% of charitable income in England and Wales goes to just 4% of registered charities. These are usually the biggest, national charities. Smaller charities, often overlooked by national media, account for 97% of charity closures in the last 10 years.
ConnectSport CIC is working to redress this power imbalance. Since 2017, we have published more than 1200 stories on sport and sustainable development. We have partnered with 14 Universities to highlight more than 1600 community organisations and each year inspire more than 250 students with more than 50 working directly working with us during the 2024-25 academic year. Read about our impact.
What we do...
Create capacity: We train and work with a growing cohort of young journalists and content creators (drawn from ConnectSport’s partner Universities) to support unheard and undervalued community organisations. We also work directly with community organisations to train their own staff and volunteers around media and communications. Read what they say.
Secure coverage: Thanks to our background and experience in national and international media, we are able to share these compelling 'human interest' stories with our partners in the mainstream media - thus helping to increase awareness and attract investment for community organisations, and simultaneously building the portfolios of our student reporters.
Common language: We align all our stories to key frameworks such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or UK Government’s 5 Missions, to help create a common language and narrative around the role of sport in delivering positive ESG (environmental, social, governance) approaches. Read about why we reference key frameworks.
Our vision is for a world where sport for development’s full potential is being maximised, and not overlooked by for-profit media.
According to the UN, sport is an "important enabler of sustainable development". But what does this mean at grassroots level? Every day across the UK, there are thousands of locally-trusted organisations using sport and physical activity to intentionally generate positive health, social, economic and environmental outcomes within their community, from reducing crime and unemployment, sedentary or carbon-rich lifestyles to increasing employability, educational attainment, health and wellbeing, and community cohesion. Most of these organisations get little or no media exposure due to their limited resources, which restricts their ability to increase awareness and investment in their amazing services to the local community, individuals in need, and ultimately to global goals and UK policy objectives.
Hear from our partners and beneficiaries...
THE STUDENTS...
“My experience working with ConnectSport opened me up to the many ways in which organisations, charities and governing bodies across the UK use sport and physical activity for positive change. It felt purposeful being able to give these stories a platform, and I also had the opportunity to highlight stories within my own community which I felt were impactful. I really enjoyed the process of developing stories and how it helped improve my confidence and skills around writing.”
– Nia Harris, Sport Psychology BSc, Loughborough University
THE LOCALLY-TRUSTED ORGANISATIONS...
“ConnectSport has been our megaphone, amplifying our voice. Ever since working with ConnectSport I have seen our publicity grow as more people have reached out and are engaging with us. ConnectSport has helped build our network and now we're flourishing thanks to them. They care about small sports groups like us who are trying our utmost to make a difference with regards to diversity and representation and they strive to highlight, celebrate and empower our achievements.”
– Namrah Shahid, founder of Hijabi Runners, Leeds
THE UNIVERSITIES...
"ConnectSport offers a perfect platform for my students to enhance their journalism. It features thousands of community sport organisations, each with a unique story to tell. By showcasing these narratives, our sports journalism students are reminding us about the power community sport has to change lives.”
– Dr Daragh Minogue, Associate Professor, Programme Leader MA Sports Journalism at St Mary’s University, Twickenham
Our University partners
ConnectSport is a Community Interest Company. All profits received are reinvested in training more socially-responsible journalists and content creators, and raising awareness for more locally-trusted organisations. Contact hello@connectsport.co.uk
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