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Sports and community leisure Like the arts, sports can help to tackle social divisions, encourage community unity, raise confidence and improve physical and mental wellbeing. In addition, sport and leisure activities can foster a shared sense of purpose, accomplishment and effective management of conflict and pressure.96 Physical activities and endurance sport can also support individuals to handle emotions effectively under stress, deal with anger and frustration and increase self-efficacy.97 For young people in particular, participation in team sports can lead to positive peer relationships, a declining rate of anti-social behaviour, a stronger sense of belonging and higher self-esteem.98 Sport can also serve as a catalyst for social and economic regeneration.99 These benefits can significantly strengthen community resilience since, in addition to increased local community health, social networks can expand and economic opportunities are likely to arise. ...sports can help to tackle social divisions, encourage community unity, raise confidence and improve physical and mental wellbeing. In addition, sport and leisure activities can foster a shared sense of purpose, accomplishment and effective management of conflict and pressure. This transformative power of sport has been recognised by policymakers across the UK.100 Sport policy is often interlinked to cultural, health and education policies and crime prevention.101 Research emerging from Sport England has shown that being active leads to benefits in five key areas - physical wellbeing, mental wellbeing, individual development, economic development and community development.102 Their research provides evidence that sport can help to build more resilient communities by bringing people together regardless of age or identity, developing community pride and increasing social
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