YouSports - Inclusion & Diversity Tandem Colleague Support Group

Theme

YouSports is about using social sport as a non-formal educational tool to reach young people—particularly those with fewer opportunities—and to create lasting personal and community development. 

It connects non-formal education, youth participation, and grassroots sport to support young people’s personal development and inclusion. Whether it’s a climbing session with mixed-ability groups or a football tournament for post-migration youth, YouSports uses social sport to reach young people where they are and create meaningful impact.

“YouSports” SNAC works on the following three focus areas:

1. Increase the quality of social sport initiatives

Support inclusive and structured sports activities for social inclusion; Support grassroots organisations and local actors in developing quality Erasmus+ projects with a sports dimension; Use sport as a channel reach out to new and different audiences for European Programme opportunities; Promote evidence-based methodologies and good practices; Encourage non-formal learning within sports contexts.

2. Enhance recognition of social sport 

Promote sport as a tool for social inclusion and non-formal education; Encourage the transfer of competences learned through social sport; Strengthen links between sport, non-formal education, and community engagement.

3. Strengthen partnerships and cooperation in social sport

Foster cooperation for broader social impact using sport as a method; build a community of organisations involved in social sport, sharing tools, knowledge and resources; facilitate cross-sector collaboration between youth work, sport, and education; Strengthen the capacity of National Agencies to support and develop sport-related initiatives within the programme.

Inclusion is the Programme priority that connects to YouSports most closely. We are keen to have it as a horizontal priority for all our activities and approaches.

This means that we should also include it in our internal work, when we are preparing, organising and strategising our activities. So, YouSports isn't only about reaching out to include different communities in international youth work. But it's also about connecting staff within the NAs (and trainers, and assessors etc). If we are encouraging others externally to do things inclusively, we should also be doing that internally - both in the way we work, and through our plans and strategies. There should be more of a systemic connection. YouSports should then work on the connections between inclusion strategies and sports.

That's why this IDCSG really makes sense for the YouSports SNAC.

SALTO Inclusion & Diversity Resources Centre, Czech NA and the YouSports SNAC will jointly organise a meeting of Inclusion and Diversity and Social Sports Officers in spring and five ID Talks have been planned for autumn 2026. 

Aim

To support the NAs in raising awareness of the potential for change and impact using sport as a tool for learning, to improve the synergies between the national inclusion and sports strategies, to encourage practices of education through sport which will contribute to creation of inclusive communities and nourish the wellbeing of young people with fewer opportunities.

Objectives

• To discuss and exchange about the potential and impact of social sport and organisational practices of it in different countries
• To gain a better understanding of what is social sport and why is it important
• To strengthen the cooperation and future collaboration between ID and sports officers
• To support NA and beneficiaries in promoting the concept of social sport as a positive resource
• To exchange strategies, methods and resources to increase the quality and quantity of Erasmus+: Youth in Action & European Solidarity Corps projects using social sport as a tool for change.      

Programme elements

• Intro & getting to know each other
• Input from the YouSports SNAC and expert discussion about social sport as a tool for change
• Looking into social sports concepts, elements and basic principles
• Sharing national realities
• Getting inspired by local practices    
• Reflecting about NA/ID & sports officer role in addressing sports and inclusion
• Mapping the needs and resources
• Sharing tools, tips & tricks
• Creating an individual action plan
• Evaluation

For whom is this meeting?

This Inclusion & Diversity Colleague Support Group is specifically meant for a tandem of Inclusion and Diversity and Sports Officers of the National Agencies, though individual attendance is possible.

Practicalities

• Co-organising NA: Czech NA & YouSports SNAC
• Participants: NA ID & sports officers (tandems)
• Venue: Prague, Czech Republic
• Arrival: 11th of May 2026 - by 18h
• Departure: 14th of May 2026 - after breakfast
• Costs: approximately 1200EUR per person (all in). To be paid afterwards. CZ NA will send an invoice. Travel costs are covered by participants. 
• We have space for max 26 participants!