The EU-funded project “Empower Diverse Youth – Build up Youth Participation and Inclusion in Sport Organisations” (SPIN Youth) uses the impact of role models to address inequalities in sport and to increase the participation of young people from diverse backgrounds. SPIN Youth contributes to the creation of inclusive, discrimination-free sporting environments that actively promote diversity and equality. The aim is to develop methods to increase sports participation among diverse youth, in particular young refugees and migrants.

As part of our project, youth coordinators from 8 different countries (Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, and Portugal) developed their own respective topic and research question, selected suitable empirical methods, and independently carried out the research. They were supported throughout this process by the national SPIN coordinators.

Based on the findings from this youth-led action research, each youth panel will develop an action plan over the course of the summer of 2025. The overarching goal is to increase inclusion and reduce inequalities. They will then select an activity from their action plan an pilot the measure during the European Week of Sport 2025 (23-30 September).

The report paper (for download via the image opposite) summarizes the results and experiences from the action research conducted in the different countries. It provides insights into the empirical research carried out by the young people. The report highlights the wide range of questions they explored based on their own interests and the answers they found in the process.