The significance of free lending of sports and recreational equipment for children and young people's physical leisure activitie
Access to equipment is a fundamental requirement for children and young people to participate in sports and leisure activities. Equipment is the second largest cost for individuals involved in sports, following fees. In 2021, the average Swede spent SEK 2,700 on sports equipment (including clothing). The costs for different sports and activities vary greatly, but the need for equipment remains, and it is becoming increasingly expensive.
The Leisure Eqiupment Library (LEL) is a facility that provides free lending of sports and leisure equipment and has been in operation for ten years. It is a social innovation developed to provide more people with the opportunity for an active leisure time. Over time, LEL has grown into a national phenomenon, represented in approximately one-third of the country's 290 municipalities. But can such a library also contribute to reducing segregation in Sweden? If so, in what way?
OBJECTIVES
The aim of the project is to investigate the significance of free lending of sports and leisure equipment, both for children and young people's physical activity during leisure time and how the operation can reduce segregation within the leisure sector.
Research questions include:
• Which children and young people us the LEL?
• In what contexts and places is the equipment used?
• How important is the operation for ensuring the occurrence of sports and leisure activities?
• Does lending lead to interactions between children and young people living in different socioeconomic areas?
THE STUDY
The material produced in the project so far consists of survey data from children and young people (ages 7-25) who have borrowed equipment from a LEL, as well as the lending statistics of the LELs themselves. The survey data was collected between June 1 and September 15, 2022. At this stage, the study is limited to LELs activities during the summer period.
PUBLICATIONS
Leisure on Loan? The Significance of Free Lending of Sports and Leisure Equipment for Socioeconomic Segregation in the Youth Sport and Leisure Sector in Sweden
https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-95077
PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS
Johan Högman
Stefan Wagnsson
Sebastian Bellander